Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand capped off the best season of her career with a final round 4 under 68 to secure the $4 million winners prize at the CME Group Tour Championship, the largest payout in womens golf. The win also cemented her place in LPGA history with the lowest single season scoring average ever recorded in the tours 75 year history.
The 22 year old finished at 26 under 262 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, earning her third LPGA win of the year, the LPGA Player of the Year award, and the Vare Trophy for season long low scoring average. Her final birdie, a 10 footer on the 18th hole, clinched a season average of 68.681, narrowly breaking Annika Sorenstams 2002 mark of 68.697.
Ranked No. 1 in the Rolex Womens World Golf Rankings, Thitikul delivered a dominant performance all week, carding four rounds in the 60s and making only three bogeys across four days. She posted back to back rounds of 63 and 64 on Friday and Saturday to build a commanding six shot lead entering Sunday.
Though she began the final round well ahead of Nelly Korda and Pajaree Anannarukarn, Thitikul briefly faced pressure when Anannarukarn pulled within two heading into the back nine with five birdies in seven holes. Thitikul responded immediately, birdieing the 10th and 13th holes while Anannarukarn dropped a shot at the par 3 12th. The lead returned to five shots, and Thitikul maintained control the rest of the way.
Thitikul closed out a four shot victory, becoming just the second player, alongside Jin Young Ko, to win back to back CME Group Tour Championships.
She ends the season as both the LPGA Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy winner, claiming the two biggest awards in womens golf.