Jeeno Thitikul’s exceptional 2024 season shows no signs of slowing down, as she heads the Aon Risk Reward Challenge with an impressive consistency that has positioned her as a serious contender for the prestigious title. With her eleventh top-10 finish this season, Thitikul has showcased her resilience and ability to perform under pressure, securing a runner-up finish at the Maybank Championship last week. This recent performance marked her sixth consecutive top-10 placement, reinforcing her status among the season’s best.
Throughout the season, Thitikul’s impressive string of results includes a tie for fourth place at the FM Championship, a solo second finish at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, a tie for seventh at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, a tie for fifth at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, and a tie for eighth at the BMW Ladies Championship. With each performance, she has consistently demonstrated a level of play that keeps her in contention week after week, earning her a notable lead in the Aon Risk Reward Challenge standings.
As it stands, Thitikul’s average score is -0.900 shots under par with a total score of 27-under after 30 holes played, solidifying her position at the top of the leaderboard. Her closest competitor, Haeran Ryu, trails slightly with an average of -0.825 shots under par. Ryu is currently the only player within the top five of the Aon Challenge who is participating in this week’s TOTO Japan Classic, creating an opportunity for her to potentially close the gap. Nevertheless, Thitikul has the chance to extend her lead even further by aiming for two birdies or better in her remaining Challenge holes.
Ruoning Yin holds the third position with a score of -0.813, while Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu are close behind, rounding out the top five with averages of -0.808 and -0.800 shots under par, respectively. This close competition among the top players adds an extra layer of excitement as the season draws to a close, with each contender looking to make a decisive move in the final rounds.
Thitikul’s success on the course is reflected in her season earnings as well. Having earned just over $2,059,309, she is one of the few players to surpass the $2 million mark this year, making her seventh on the Official Money List. Her consistency has also placed her in the top rankings for the Race to the CME Globe, where she holds the seventh position with 2,131.839 points. Additionally, she leads the Vare Trophy standings with an impressive scoring average of 69.537, underscoring her overall dominance this season. In the Rolex Player of the Year award standings, Thitikul is currently in tenth place, trailing leader Nelly Korda by 176 points.
Bailey Tardy On the Rise
American golfer Bailey Tardy also made headlines recently with a notable rise in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, climbing 33 spots to reach No. 98. This impressive jump followed her tie for fourth place at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. The T4 finish marked her second top-10 result of the season, complementing her victory at the Blue Bay LPGA in March, which was her first LPGA win. This season, Tardy’s earnings and achievements have solidified her presence on the LPGA Tour, despite an up-and-down year in which she has only made six cuts out of 21 starts. Now ranked 50th in the Race to the CME Globe standings, Tardy is poised to compete in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
Mao Saigo Maintains Lead in Rookie of the Year Race
In the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings, Mao Saigo holds a strong lead, maintaining a 112-point edge over Jin Hee Im and a 362-point gap ahead of Gabriela Ruffels. Saigo’s consistent performances throughout the season, including seven top-10 finishes, have highlighted her as one of the most promising newcomers on the LPGA Tour. Notable achievements this season include a tie for eighth at the JM Eagle LA Championship, a tie for seventh at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, a runner-up finish at the CPKC Women’s Open, and a tie for fourth at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
With four events left in the season, Saigo has a realistic shot at becoming the second Japanese player to claim the Rookie of the Year title, joining Hiromi Kobayashi, who earned the honor in 1990.
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