Top stars Yin Ruoning Yin (China), Miyu Yamashita (Japan), and Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand) alongside Maybank Championship Malaysian invites and Asean Qualifiers 2025 winners, (From L to R) Mirabel Tan, Liyana Durisic, Ashley Lau, Genevieve Ling, Kelly Tan, Yin Ruoning, Jeeno Thitikul, Miyu Yamashita, Kan Bunnabodee, Cholcheva Wongras, Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul (a), Achiraya Sriwong (a), Namo Luangnitikul (a)
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand golfing superstar Jeeno Thitikul, the World No. 1, is on a mission. Twice she came close to winning the Maybank Golf Championship but each time she had to settle with the second best spots in 2024 and 2025.
Having finished second two years in a row, Jeeno, who recently won the Buick LPGA Shanghai , is all fired up to make sure she doesn't suffer a hat-trick of disappointments.
"I'm definitely trying to get the win, for sure. This is one of my favourite events. I'm so impressed by how much the fans cheered for me last year and the year before," said the 22-year-old Jeeno.
"Despite two runner-up spots, I do have great memories here.
"In 2024 I was in the playoff with Celine (Boutier) for nine holes, and then last year I also had an excellent finish. Came in second, but hats off to Ronni (Yin Ruoning) for what she did last year."
World No.1 Thitikul is in the form of her life. The 22-year-old Thai star has bagged three titles this season - the PIF Saudi Ladies International, the Mizuho Americas Open and in Shanghai as recently as Oct 23. This time, she aims to carry on that form and get that coveted title in Malaysia.
"The course is in excellent condition as always. It is just going to be great again to play here," she said.
World No.1 and Thai golf star Jeeno Thitikul speaking during the press conference in KLGCC."I had really had good ball striking like the past few months, but also, you know, like golf, which means we always and always have something to work on. It's just not a game that, oh, one day you get 100% out there. I don't feel that. I never feel that. Like, I think coming week to week, like this week, okay, you got driver really well. But you need to get something that you're not comfortable with or confident in. That's what my experience with golf.
"And then I just think like just not having like a good 100% confident, which is good to me, because sometimes you have too much confidence and expect the things to be good. If you see the thing not going right or going as you expected, you can be sad or angry so easily."
The down-to-earth Jeeno also added she is just very happy to be in Malaysia, and added she is always encouraged by the wonderful support she gets from the local fans in KLGCC.
"The course, the weather, and also the fans seem like a second home to me. It seems like a mini Thailand out there, so that's why I'm just really comfortable and you know, kind of always looking forward to coming here," she said.
The Maybank Championship is one of four events remaining for the LPGA Tour, which means it’s crunch time for players to make a move in the season-long points races to determine the year’s biggest honours. Thitikul has a narrow lead in the Rolex Player of the Year race, entering the week with 162 points, 39 points more than South Korean Lee Min-jee, who has 123 points.
But with Min-jee not in the field in Malaysia, Thitikul has a chance to further extend her lead, although she also wants to temper expectations on her.
"I am trying to get the win for sure. I mean, this one is one of my favourite events with all the fans cheering. I'm so impressed with the fans last year, and I remember the first year as well.
"I will try, but I won't know the result. I'm not comparing the result to last year, but the process from this year and last year.
"I want to enjoy my golf, be able to show them what I have in each tournament and what I have left this year. That's really my goal."
Besides Jeeno and the other top stars, the tournament will also see five rising young stars of golf and all from Thailand.
These five golfers were the winners of the Asean qualifiers for the Maybank Championships -- Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul (a), Achiraya Sriwong (a), Namo Luangnitikul (a), Cholcheva Wongras and Kan Bunnabodee; and they are out to impress the fans, especially with their idol Jeeno leading the way in the much-awaited tournament.
Meanwhile, Malaysia also has five Malaysian players in the mix. The national contingent is led by Mirabel Ting, who made her professional debut at this year’s The Amundi Evian Championship, Kelly Tan, the two-time Olympian, Malaysian No.1 player Ashley Lau together with young guns Liyana Durisic and Genevieve Ling.
This year's Maybank Championship will feature a strong 78-woman field vying for the title at the US$3 million (about RM12.6 million) showpiece.
Besides Boutier and Ruoning, some of the other big names teeing off this week are Australian Grace Kim, winner of the Evian Championship in July; rising Japanese star Miyu Yamashita, who won the AIG Women's British Open in August; and English sensation Lottie Woad, who clinched the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open in her first professional start in July.
