Naples: World number one golfer Atthaya “Gino” Thitikul is preparing to defend her title at the prestigious CME Group Tour Championship, the concluding event of the 2025 LPGA season. The tournament will take place at the Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, from November 20-23, and features a prize purse of US$11 million, equivalent to approximately 357.3 million baht. Thitikul will compete alongside four fellow Thai golfers-Ariya “May” Jutanugarn, Chanettee “Praw” Wannasaen, Paphangkorn “Patty” Tavatanakit, and Pajaree “Meow” Anantharunkarn-against 60 top female golfers.
According to Thai News Agency, the CME Group Tour Championship is a highly anticipated event that features a no-cut, 72-hole stroke play format. The winner of the tournament will take home US$4 million, or about 129.9 million baht. Atthaya Thitikul, who is making her fourth appearance at the event, has shown remarkable consistency with a fifth-place finish in 2023 and a tie for 10th in 2022. This season, she has recorded the most top-10 finishes on tour, including victories at the Mizuho America Open and the Buick LPGA Shanghai. Thitikul is a frontrunner for the Player of the Year award and the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average.
Ariya Jutanugarn, a former champion with 12 LPGA titles, will also be a strong contender. Jutanugarn won the tournament in 2017 and has had multiple top-10 finishes at the event. This season, she has participated in 16 events, securing six top-10 finishes.
Chanettee Wannasaen, who has two LPGA Tour titles to her name, will be appearing at the championship for the third time. Her record includes a tie for 40th in 2023 and a tie for 30th last year. Wannasaen has competed in 23 events this season, with three top-10 finishes and a second-place tie at the Major Women’s PGA Championship.
Paphangkorn Tavatanakit, a major champion and two-time LPGA winner, will be competing for the fifth time. Her past performances at the event include a tie for 35th in 2021 and a tie for 60th last year. Tavatanakit has participated in 21 events this season, achieving two top-10 finishes.
Pajaree Anantharunkarn, another two-time LPGA champion, rounds out the Thai contingent. She has qualified for the Race to CME Globe as the 60th player. Anantharunkarn’s previous appearances at the event have seen her finish as high as 6th in 2022. This season, she has participated in 25 tournaments and finished in the top 10 once.
The competition will also feature world-class golfers including world number 2 Nelly Korda, major champion and Rookie of the Year Miyu Yamashita, and other notable players such as Lee Min-ji, Hannah Green, and Lydia Ko. The event promises to be a thrilling contest among the world’s elite female golfers.