Thailand’s Atthaya “Jeeno” Thitikul is ranked as the No.1 ladies golfer in the world and she displayed exactly why this is the case with a remarkable come-from-behind display to win the LPGA Shanghai title last Sunday.
On a day of extraordinary high quality golf, Jeeno came from four shots down to force a playoff against Japan’s Minami Katsu and then proceeded to win the title with a birdie at the fifth playoff hole. On her last five holes in regulation, the Thai star recorded three birdies and an eagle.
To overhaul Katsu in that final round 22-year-old Jeeno fired a stunning nine-under par 63. The Japanese player, who began the day with a two-shot lead, which she later extended to four, shot a seven-under 65. Under any normal circumstances that would have guaranteed a victory, but Jeeno ensured it would be anything but normal.
Despite the tension Katsu, who shot an incredible 61 on the second day, displayed tremendous sportsmanship, applauding Jeeno’s brilliant eagle on the 17th hole. The Japanese player told reporters that the final day had been a “great experience,” adding that it had given her confidence.
The impressive galleries in Shanghai also deserve recognition. Although they would obviously have preferred a Chinese player to win the title, they gave enthusiastic applause to both the Thai and Japanese players as they battled it out down the nerve-jangling final stretch. The spectators also kept very quiet when players were putting, something that was not always the case in the Ryder Cup.
Jeeno’s win was all the more impressive considering recent disappointments she has suffered after letting slip tournaments in final hole dramas. She displayed considerable mental strength in not allowing those recent setbacks to unsettle her. It must have been hard for her to shake off the memory of four-putting on the final hole in the Kroger Queen City Championship, which gifted England’s Charley Hull a one-stroke victory.
The Thai star had not played for three weeks after that disappointment and took a much-needed vacation in Canada. The victory in Shanghai came as a great relief for the young Thai. “What happened in the last event was still on my mind,” she admitted. “But I have proved I can come back. It’s a dream come true.”
Jeeno told Golfweek that the dramatic losses had hurt. “I cried quite a lot,” she admitted. “I am human and make mistakes, everyone does.”
With the Shanghai victory, Jeeno also became the first player to win twice on the LPGA tour this year.
Last year, the Thai star decided to use her nickname Jeeno as her professional golf name rather than her first name Atthaya. The reason was simple. “It’s just easier for people to pronounce and remember,” she explained.
Jeeno is known for her relaxed demeanour on the course with plenty of smiles and laughter. “If I take it too seriously, I won’t win,” she once said. But behind the smiles there is strong discipline and a determination to win.
Jeeno was raised in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi, and was introduced to golf at the age of six by her grandfather. It is important that Thai golf fans don’t expect too much from Jeeno. No one can win every week, even the world No.1. But there is little doubt Jeeno will soon be needing a bigger trophy cabinet.