Atthaya Thitikul
Name:
Atthaya ThitikulAlso known as:
Jeen; Jeeno.Country:
ThailandBorn:
Feb 20, 2003 in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand.Original/Home Club:
Occupation:
Professional golfer.Turned Pro:
2020 (aged 17)Multiple Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour wins. Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner, Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year (2021). LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year (2022).
Starting golf at age six, Thitikul shot to fame as a teenage sensation, winning her first Ladies European Tour event (the Ladies European Thailand Championship), aged 14 yrs 4 mths 19 days, making her the youngest ever winner of a women's professional tour event. She won the same event, still as an amateur, in 2019.
Thitikul turned professional in January 2020 aged 17. The following year, as an 18-year-old, she claimed two LET titles (the Czech and Swiss Opens), finishing the year with a clean sweep of the LET's Order of Merit, Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year awards. A first success on America's LPGA Tour came in 2022, as well as Rookie of the Year honours.
Awards
Rolex
Atthaya Thitikul (Thai) won the LPGA Tour 2022 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. Using a season-long points system (based on finishes in Tour events), Thitikul accumulated 1,587 pts. In the process she won $2,193,642 in official prize-money and finished fifth on the LPGA money list. Second was Hye-jin Choi (S Kor) with 1,292 pts (earning $2,075,696, and finishing 6th); third was Ayaka Furue (Jpn) with 759 pts (earning $957,831, and finishing 29th).
America
JTBC/Barbasol
Played as the JTBC Classic presented by Barbasol (March 25-28; formerly the Kia Classic). 19-year-old Atthaya Thitikul (Thai) beat Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Den) with a bogey at the second playoff hole (par-4 18th), to record her first LPGA Tour win after 19 starts on the Tour. [Aviara GC, Carlsbad, CA].
America
Walmart/P&G
Played as the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G (Sept 23-25). Atthaya Thitikul (Thai) beat Danielle Kang (USA) with a birdie at the second playoff hole (par-4 16th), to record her second LPGA Tour win. [Pinnacle CC, Rogers, Arkansas].
Awards
LET
18-year-old Atthaya Thitikul (Thai) won the LET season-long points chase, to capture the Tour's 2021 Order of Merit (Race to Costa del Sol) and €150,000 bonus. Thitikul accumulated 3,591.96 points (earning €602,042 in the process). Second was Pia Babnik (Slov) 1,953.89 pts (earnings €130,957); third was Stephanie Kyriacou (Aus) 1,765.24 pts (earnings €236,562). Thitikul emulated Esther Henseleit (Ger; 2019), Laura Davies (Eng; 1985) and Carlota Ciganda (Esp; 2012) in winning both the LET's Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year award in the same season.
18-year-old Atthaya Thitikul (Thai) won the LET Players' Player of the Year Award, based on the votes of her peers. She also won the LET's 2021 Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year award.
Awards
LET
18-year-old Atthaya Thitikul (Thai) won the 2021 Rookie of the Year Award as the Ladies European Tour's leading first-season player. She accumulated 3,591.96 points (earning €602,042 in the process). Second in the rookie race was Pia Babnik (Slov) 1,953.89 pts (earnings €130,957); third was Stephanie Kyriacou (Aus) 1,765.24 pts (earnings €236,562). Thitikul emulated Laura Davies (Eng; 1985), Carlota Ciganda (Esp; 2012) and Esther Henseleit (Ger; 2019) in winning both the LET's Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year award in the same season.
Europe
Tipsport
Played as the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open (June 25-27). Second-placed Nuria Iturrioz (Esp) finished 1 shot behind 18-year-old Atthaya Thitikul (Thai), who claimed her first Ladies European Tour win as a professional. As an amateur, Thitikul had already recorded two LET victories, both coming in her native Thailand, in 2017 and 2019. [Beroun GC, Beroun, nr Prague, Czech Republic; now called Royal Beroun].
Europe
VP Bank
Played as the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open (Sept 9-11). Second-placed Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) finished 1 shot behind Atthaya Thitikul (Thai), who recorded her second Ladies European Tour win of the year. [Golfpark Holzhäusern, Risch-Rotkreuz, Switzerland].
Asia
LET
Played as the Ladies European Thailand Championship (June 20-23). Second-placed Esther Henseleit (Ger) finished 5 shots behind Thitikul (Thai, amateur), who won this event for the second time in three years. Henseleit collected the first place prize money of €45,000. [Phoenix Gold G&CC, Pattaya, Thailand].
Amateur
R&A / APGC
Played as the inaugural Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (WAAP) (Feb 21-24). 15-year-old Atthaya Thitikul (Thai) beat Yuna Nishimura (Jpn) with a par at the third playoff hole (par-4 12th). Yuka Saso (Phil) was eliminated at the second playoff hole (par-4 18th) and Wenyung Keh (NZ) at the first playoff hole (par-4 18th). Thitikul turned 15-years-old the day before the championship started. [Tanjong course, Sentosa GC, Singapore].
Asia
LET
Played as the inaugural Ladies European Thailand Championship (July 6-9). Second-placed Ana Menendez (Mex) finished 2 shots behind Thitikul (Thai, amateur), who at 14 yrs 4 mths 19 days became the youngest ever winner of a women's professional tour event. Menendez received the €45,000 first prize. [Phoenix Gold G&CC, Pattaya, Thailand].
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