Naples: World number one golfer, Atthaya Thitikul, has claimed her second consecutive CME Group Tour Championship title, closing out the season with an impressive performance. Atthaya, playing at the Tiburon Golf Club in Florida, USA, shot a 4-under-par 68 on the final day, bringing her total score to 26-under-par 262. She finished four strokes ahead of her Thai competitor, Pajaree Anannarukarn, securing a prize of $4 million.
According to Thai News Agency, this victory marks Atthaya’s third title of the year and her seventh on the LPGA Tour. The tournament featured a total prize pool of $11 million, and the top 60 golfers competed over 72 holes of stroke play without any cuts. Atthaya’s total earnings for the year have now exceeded $7 million, setting a new record in the LPGA Tour history. She also received the Player of the Year award and the WAT Trophy for her exceptional scoring average.
Atthaya entered the tournament as the leader and maintained her dominance throughout. Starting with a birdie on the first hole, she continued to excel, despite a bogey on subsequent holes, with birdies on holes 6, 10, 13, and the final hole. Her performance nearly matched the tournament record set by Amy Yang in 2023. This season, Atthaya has achieved 20 top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, with 14 being in the top three.
This win makes Atthaya the second player, after Ko Jin-young, to win the CME Group Tour Championship consecutively. Her achievements this season also include winning the Mizuho America Open and Buick LPGA Shanghai. Additionally, Atthaya broke the record for the lowest scoring average in tour history, previously held by Annika Sorenstam.
Pajaree Anannarukarn, who finished in second place, started strong with three birdies and continued to impress, ending the tournament with a total score of 22 under par 266. Her performance earned her $1 million, the highest prize money she has secured in her professional career.
Other notable performances from Thai golfers included Patty Tavatanakit, who finished in 7th place, Ariya Jutanugarn in 33rd place, and Chanettee Wannasaen in 60th place, each earning significant prize money for their efforts.