KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand's fast-rising star Jeeno Thitikul came so close in winning the Maybank Championship last year but she suffered a heart-breaking playoff defeat to Frenchwoman Celine Boutier.
This year, the 21-year-old, said to be the fastest rising star in the international golf circuit, is back with more determination and surely will be going all out to win the coveted trophy this time around.
In a tournament filled with star-studded players, Jeeno who has been in excellent form so far this season, will be out to put last year's disappointment to bed with another charge at the title.
She has certainly been playing well this year and even teamed up with China's Yin Ruoning to win the 2024 Dow Championship. She also finished tied sixth in this year's US Open, her best ever performance in the Major tournament.
Last week, she carded a final-round 67 at the Buick LPGA Shanghai to finish tied for fifth and earn her fourth consecutive top 10 on the LPGA Tour.
And to put the icing on the cake, the Thai lass would certainly be aiming to go one better than last year's incredible finale when she lost the title at the ninth play-off hole.
Jeeno will look to maintain that consistency in the coming weeks as the LPGA Tour continues its swing through Asia. The 21-year-old is slated to compete in the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea this week and the Maybank Championship on Thursday (Oct 24) in Kuala Lumpur.
The next two weeks also represent an opportunity for Jeeno to continue to fine-tune her game as the Tour winds closer to the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
At the BMW Championships, Jeeno is currently in the tied-sixth position as the tournament winds-up on Sunday (Oct 19).
After the Shanghai tournament, Jeeno said: “I always love the Asian Swing. All good food, good vibes, no cut line for us. And then, we can be aggressive all the time,” Thitikul said about her upcoming stretch.
“For Korea, I think the weather going to be challenging for me because I'm not used to the cold weather much. Hopefully, if it's not that cold, it should be good for me. I still have a lot of work to work on as well. My irons and also my short game. Just a lot of stuff to do. Of course, I'm hoping for another good run in the Maybank Championships too."
But winning in KL will be anything but easy. The elite players of the ladies’ game have confirmed their participation at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) for the tournament beginning this Thursday (Oct 24).
World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States is among the many marquee names who have signed up for the US$3 million championship, which is the largest purse of any Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) event in Asia. And add to that list, Paris Olympics gold medallist Lydia Ko, who has been having an amazing season.
The tournament will also feature defending champion Celine Boutier of France and American world No. 2 Lilia Vu and former world No. 1 Ruoning, who incidentally won the Buick LPGA Shanghai in her hometown last week. Also set to tee it up at the KLGCC are South Korean Amy Yang, who won this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, her much decorated compatriot Ko Jin-young, two-time US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso of Japan and Australia’s leading player Hannah Green.
One of the world’s most popular players since bursting onto the world stage as a teenager more than a decade ago, New Zealander Ko is enjoying a career renaissance with an exceptional season that includes a gold medal at the Paris Olympics in August. She secured her third major title just two weeks later at the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.
A 21-time LPGA Tour winner, Ko notched her previous two major victories at the 2015 Amundi Evian Championship and 2016 Chevron Championship.
Korda finished tied 6th at last year’s Maybank Championship and will once again be among the heavy favourites for the title, having enjoyed a superb 2024 season.
The American star won the 2024 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award for most outstanding record in all five major championships during the season with a T2 finish at the AIG Women’s Open, her 12th career top 10 performance in a major.
Earlier this year, Korda won The Chevron Championship to claim her second career major title and fifth straight victory of 2024, which tied the record for most consecutive Tour wins in tournaments participated.
She added a sixth season win and 14th career LPGA title at the Mizuho Americas Open, which put her in the history books as just the fourth player in LPGA Tour history to win six or more times in a season before the end of May.
The elite list will be joined by five of South-East Asia's best who got into the starting lineup through a special Asean qualifier. The five include Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri and Kristina Natalia Yoko from Indonesia, Chayanit Wangmahaporn from Thailand, Malaysia’s Liyana Durisic and Nur Durriyah Damian.
These players will be out thrill fans with their exceptional skills as they battle it out for the coveted Tiger Trophy with the best in the world.
Dato’ Khairussaleh Ramli, President and Group CEO of Maybank, emphasised the championship’s role in promoting inclusivity and fostering talent across the ASEAN region. “The Maybank Championship continues to be a showcase of world-class talent, reinforcing our dedication to making golf more accessible while fostering growth in the community. More than just a competition, the platform serves as a driver of economic development and bears testament to our ongoing commitment to empowering the region.”
LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan voiced her appreciation to Maybank for sharing the tour’s commitment to growing the game.
“This year’s Maybank Championship is an important part of the LPGA Tour’s global calendar, and a crucial part of our second Asian swing,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan.
“We are proud to partner with Maybank, whose unwavering commitment to growing opportunities for women in golf and aligns with our mission to inspire and empower girls and women, both on and off the course, worldwide. We look forward to another unforgettable week of competition in Kuala Lumpur and thank Maybank for their tremendous partnership.”
The Maybank Championship is a no-cut event, which ensures that fans will be able to see their favourite players in action on all four days. Ticketing options include the RM38 Weekday Pass (entry for Thursday and Friday), RM68 Weekend Pass (entry for Saturday and Sunday), and RM88 Season Pass (entry for all four days).
In line with the championship’s inclusivity objective, children under 12 enjoy free entry. Maybank Cardholders (Debit, Credit & Charge Cards) and MAE App users are also entitled to free entry. For more information and ticket bookings, visit maybank.my/golf
