World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul’s 2026 season is off to an impressive start, as the 23-year-old claimed her eighth career LPGA win at the Honda LPGA Thailand on Sunday — and her first-ever victory in her home country.
Thitikul fired rounds of 67-63-66-68 to reach 24 under, edging Japan’s Chizzy Iwai by one shot. Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim was third at 22 under.
Thitikul was three shots back at the tournament’s halfway point but entered the final round with a two-stroke lead after birdieing the final three holes of her third round. On Sunday, Thitikul made six birdies, bringing her tournament total to 25, which tied for the most of any player in the field.
Thitikul has competed in her home-country tournament a total of eight times, but until this year, her best finish was runner-up in 2021.
Revisiting Jeeno Thitikul’s under-the-radar, record-setting year
“I mean, I would rate it like A+++ something,” Thitikul said Sunday of where this victory ranks. “I mean, you know, like I know it’s not that big event like compared to the majors, but like for us, for me, winning in my home country just means a lot to me, sometime more than a major feeling.”
Another element adding to the momentousness of the occasion was the fact that Thitikul’s mother was onsite to watch her daughter win in person for the first time.
“Yeah, it’s mean a lot. My mom just came up to me when I finished 18 and she cried a lot, and then I told her, I finally won the tournament in front of you. Like you were here with me,” Thitikul said. “So she’s just really emotional. Make me emotional, too.”
Thitikul has now won three times in five starts, and has earned $17,704,399 in just 86 total starts, bumping her to No. 7 on the LPGA’s all-time career money list. Annika Sorenstam is No. 1 with $22,583,693 in 308 starts.
This week, the LPGA heads to Singapore for the HSBC Women’s World Championship where Lydia Ko is the defending champion. The first round begins on Thursday, February 26.
