Jeeno Thitikul laps top-ranked Nelly Korda in Mizuho Americas victory at Liberty National

USA Today

11-05-2025

Jeeno Thitikul laps top-ranked Nelly Korda in Mizuho Americas victory at Liberty National
The final round of the Mizuho Americas Open was shaped up to be a shootout between the top two players in the world. In the end, world No. 1 Nelly Korda, the event's defending champion, didn't give Jeeno Thitikul much to worry about. Thitikul lapped the field by four strokes after carding a bogey-free 69 in the final round. Korda closed with a 1-over 73 to finish six strokes back.
Now a five-time winner on tour, the young Thai star earned $450,000 for her rock-solid efforts.
"I mean, bogey-free on the final round, final group, as well, because the pin positions were so tough today," said Thitikul. "We got a lot of wind, and then a lot of nerves and excitement for sure.
"I just really told myself to be patient out there."
Thitikul, 22, has finished outside the top 10 twice in eight starts, including a share of 12th at the Blue Bay LPGA and a share of 24th at the Chevron Championship. Thitikul said the near missed cut at the season's first major served as a bit of a wake-up call. She was particularly frustrated on the greens in Texas.
"I just think Chevron had really tough pin positions and tough greens and then the line, as well," said Thitikul. "Last week I just went back home in Dallas and working on it a little bit to matching the speed and the line. But I know I have been doing stroking-wise really good, so I just tried to keep it on track."
Aphrodite Deng wins AJGA's Mizuho Americas Open junior event
The highlight, she said, was playing alongside Korda for two rounds. The junior girls played a Stableford format alongside the pros at Liberty National.
"She motivated me," said Deng. "When she made a putt, I tried to make it, too."
Boutier finished solo second while Andrea Lee tied for third with Carlota Ciganda. Lee, a former top-ranked amateur, was impressed by Deng's game.
"I think she's only like 15 years old, so it makes me feel extremely old," said Lee.
"But yeah, she actually bombs it for her size. She hits really long drives off the tee and really good short game, really good putter. I think she has a really bright future ahead of her."
Mizuho Americas Open has star-studded list of winners
This marked the third playing of the Mizuho event, hosted by Michelle Wie West, and it has quickly become one of the premiere events on the LPGA schedule. Rose Zhang won the first edition in her LPGA professional debut followed by Korda in 2024 and now, Thitikul, who played alongside Mizuho CEO Jerry Rizzieri during the pro-am earlier in the week.
"Getting ferries on and off the course from the hotel is so cool," said Thitikul of the event's official transportation. "We don't have any tournaments that we're going to jump on the ferry at all. Also, definitely New York food, New York cheesecake, New York pizza. I'll just get fat now.
"But everyone is just liking this experience. Jerry just said I hope all the top players come here every year. I was telling him, definitely, no worries, all the players coming here because we love here."