"Pro Jeen" Atthaya Thitikul: Thai female golfer ranked No. 2 in the world faces the challenge of securing her 10th championship at age 23.
Winning The Standard Portland Classic last weekend marked a significant milestone in the professional career of "Pro Jeen" Atthaya Thitikul, currently the world’s No. 2 female golfer, particularly in terms of statistics.
This title was Pro Jeen's 10th LPGA Tour win, making her the eighth golfer since 1980 to reach 10 LPGA victories before turning 24. Looking back to 2022, only two players on the tour have achieved 10 wins: American world No. 1 Nelly Korda and Pro Jeen herself.
The Standard Portland Classic was Pro Jeen's third title this year, following the Honda LPGA Thailand in February and the Mizuho Americas Open in May. This makes her the second most successful Thai golfer on the LPGA Tour this year, behind Korda who has four titles. Since earning her LPGA Tour card in 2022, Pro Jeen has won at least two tournaments every year except 2023.
Golfweek magazine noted that Pro Jeen’s remarkable consistency is best shown by her 63 top-10 finishes in 99 LPGA events to date. The $300,000 (approx. 9.9 million baht) prize from her latest win brought her total LPGA earnings to $19.7 million USD (about 650.1 million baht), ranking her sixth all-time currently.
When asked about reaching 10 LPGA victories, Pro Jeen said each win is meaningful because it represents the culmination of hard work. She admitted to having a love-hate relationship with golf, like many players, having faced moments of doubt, tears, and frustration. But winning makes her feel that the sacrifices and efforts have borne fruit, as she experienced today by overcoming her inner negativity.
After round three, Pro Jeen, who was two strokes behind the leader, said this course encourages aggressive play. A tee shot landing on the fairway opens up opportunities to place the next shots close to the hole and compete for a good score, meaning every shot is a chance to win.
During the final round, Pro Jeen followed this approach, birdieing six of the first seven holes. She then made a bogey on the 9th hole, which she described as an unforced error similar to one in round three, but quickly redeemed herself with an eagle on the 10th, shifting momentum. The back nine proved challenging but motivating for her.
Another reason Pro Jeen was especially pleased with this victory is that all five Thai golfers who made the cut finished in the top 10 at the Portland tournament. Pro Jeen said seeing the leaderboard was heartening because everyone had a chance to win. Though thousands of kilometers from home, competing alongside fellow Thai golfers who share language and culture gave her a comforting sense of home and great pride. They support each other through good and bad weeks, offering help, comfort, and a listening ear.
Currently, "Pro May" Ariya Jutanugarn, former world No. 1, remains the Thai female golfer with the most LPGA wins at 12, including two major titles. This record remains a challenge ahead for Pro Jeen.
Pro Jeen said when she joined the tour full-time in 2022, she did not expect to reach double-digit wins. However, after her first victory, she was motivated to continue striving and accumulated more titles.
Now at age 23 and in her fifth official tour year, Pro Jeen’s journey is still long with new successes ahead. For her, every shot represents a possibility and an opportunity to compete for victory.