The LPGA\u2019s history run of parity came to an end Sunday in Shanghai at the hands of Jeeno Thitikul, which is exactly what both the World No. 1 and the LPGA needed. <\/p>\n
Entering the Buick LPGA Shanghai, the LPGA had 26 unique winners in 25 events. There had been zero multi-time winners this season. Nelly Korda, who won seven times last season, is so far winless despite being statistically on the same level<\/a>. Having that many unique winners shows the depth of the LPGA. The tour is loaded with talent and is only getting deeper as more young talents blossom. But for a tour hoping to attract more eyeballs, a dominant player might be needed. <\/p>\n That might be Korda. She\u2019s still women\u2019s golf\u2019s top star, and although the wins haven\u2019t come this season, her play hasn\u2019t tailed off. But there\u2019s room for another star to emerge, and Thitikul, who overtook Korda as World No. 1 in August, has the game and personality to become the lead force. <\/p>\n But winning is the key ingredient.<\/p>\n Thitikul won earlier this season at the Mizuho Americas Open. Despite not securing her first career title, she has been a constant at this year\u2019s majors. She was in the hunt at the Chevron before fading on the weekend. She lost a duel to Minjee Lee at the KPMG Women\u2019s PGA Championship and fell in a playoff to Grace Kim at the Amundi Evian Championship. She entered this week with runner-up finishes in her previous two starts, including at the Kroger Queen City Championship, where she four-putted on the 72nd hole <\/a>to hand the trophy to Charey Hull. <\/p>\n There\u2019s a world where Thitikul has grabbed multiple trophies this season, including a major. Instead, she arrived in Shanghai with just one victory and was still licking her wounds from the collapse at the Kroger. <\/p>\n That brings us to Sunday, where Japan\u2019s Minami Katsu entered the final round at Qizhong Garden Golf Club with a two-shot lead over Thitikul and Lee. A win by Katsu would set the LPGA record for most unique winners in a season at 27. Katsu extended her lead to four after 13 holes and appeared to be headed for her first career win.<\/p>\n But Thitikul had other plans. <\/p>\n The World No. 1 birdied 14, 15 and 16 before adding an eagle at 17 to draw level with Katsu. Katsu had a chance to win with a birdie on 18 but her putt slid by the hole to send the tournament to a playoff. Thitikul and Katsu traded pars for the first four playoff holes before the World No. 1 stuffed her approach on the fifth playoff hole to three feet. Katsu\u2019s approach came up short of the green, and her tournament-extending chip didn\u2019t drop, which allowed Thitikul to claim the title. <\/p>\n \n Thitikul earns LPGA Shanghai title in playoff\n <\/p>\n After the win, Thitikul acknowledged that her disastrous four-putt at the Kroger had been weighing on her. A redemptive win in Shanghai had a cleansing feeling for Thitikul. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened on the last event [was] definitely still in my mind, but like to be able to prove myself again this tournament, which is \u2026 like a dream come true and you know, I\u2019m not carrying a thing on my shoulder,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Thai star has shown impressive perspective early in her career. It\u2019s a pressure-relieving perspective that is the product of humble beginnings. Thitikul sharpened her skills on the driving range in Ratchaburi, Thailand, a small town not far from Bangkok that doesn\u2019t have its own course<\/a>. Thitikul has said her professional goal has been to make enough money to provide her family with a good life, and she believes she has already accomplished that goal. While her talent suggests she can write her name in the stars, her goals have always remained more earth-based. At the FM Championship, Thitikul, who had recently overtaken Korda as World No. 1, said she didn\u2019t think she was \u201cthat good.\u201d <\/a><\/p>\n To her, the rest is the rest. She is already amazed by the success she has found. She wants more but claims that she\u2019ll be happy with whatever comes.<\/p>\n