It should be difficult for World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul to top her magnificent season from last year unless she wins a major championship.
But that all changed Sunday.
Thitikul shot a four-under 68 and made a tap-in par on the 18th hole to win the Honda LPGA Thailand for her first victory in her home country. She shot 67-63-66-68 for a 24-under total to win by one shot over Chizzy Iwai at Siam Country Club.
The emotional win in front of family and friends is hard to top.
“I would rate it like A plus plus plus plus something,” Thitikul told Golf Channel. “I know it’s not that big event compared to the majors but for us and for me winning in my home country means a lot more to me, sometimes more than a major.”
And the dream comes true for Jeeno, winning at home 🏆 pic.twitter.com/y9AOsD9k7M
— LPGA (@LPGA) February 22, 2026
The superstar and her mom, Siriwan, embraced at the 18th. Siriwan sprayed a water bottle on her just as players did too. This is the only tournament Siriwan attends each year, so it’s the first time she’s seen her daughter win an LPGA event in person.
“It meant a lot. My mom came up to me when I finished on 18 and she cried a lot,” Thitikul said. “I told her, ‘I finally won a tournament in front of you.’ She was really emotional. It made me emotional too.”
Thitikul, who had the 54-hole lead by two shots, will remember this one for quite a while. She held off Iwai in a great duel between two of the game’s youngest and most talented players.
Iwai shot a six-under 66 to finish second and was left in tears after she finished, with Thitikul still playing in the group behind her. Iwai missed a birdie putt inside five feet that would’ve given her a one-shot lead at No. 15, and that surely caused most of her angst. Iwai won once last year, and there will surely be opportunities for the Japanese star to win again this year. Her twin sister Akie was there to comfort her after the round in Thailand.
Thitikul celebrated her 23rd birthday on Friday with a nine-under 63. Fans serenading her all day and all tournament. They followed her in droves on Sunday, too.
This is Thitkiul’s third win in the last five starts, dating back to last season when she won three times and was named the Rolex Player of the year for the second straight year.
Thitikul celebrates with her grandfather.
Thananuwat Srirasant
Thitikul birdied the first hole Sunday, then had birdies on holes 6, 7 and 8. She had two bogeys (and just three for the tournament). Each time Iwai moved into a share of the lead, Thitikul would answer.
She won $270,00 in her eighth career victory. Thitikul now has $17,704,399 in official career earnings, and she just started her fifth year on tour.
When she walked up the 18th fairway, she waved to her adoring fans. After she dropped her final putt, she raised both arms. After the water bottles were emptied on her, she took off both shoes and drained the water from waves of celebration.
Thitikul is clearly riding the momentum created from last year. Surely the only thing that could top it now is a major even though this victory in Thailand seemed to feel like one.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com