Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul keeps cool to win LPGA's Americas Open
Low amateur Aphrodite Deng of Canada and tournament winner Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand pose with their trophies after the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open. Getty Images via AFP
NEW YORK – Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul kept her cool and patience as she collected her fifth LPGA Tour title with victory at the Americas Open at Liberty National on May 11.
The world No. 2 shot a solid three-under 69 to win by four strokes from France's Celine Boutier, who shot an even-par 72 in her final round.
Jeeno finished 17-under for the week after staying out of trouble and making birdies on the first, ninth and 17th.
The 22-year-old Thai star had finished off last season with victory in the Tour Championship in November and won on the Ladies European Tour in Saudi Arabia in February.
The win in Jersey City was her 11th professional victory on all tours, but having started her round with just a one-stroke advantage over Boutier, said she had no clue of the leaderboard situation as she approached the final hole.
'I had no idea. Maybe on the last putt because I didn't even look at the leaderboard at all, to be honest. I just asked my caddie if I need to make a par or not,' she said.
'He said, 'It's OK, I think you're safe'. I was just like, OK, so actually I can breathe now.'
Jeeno said that tricky pin positions combined with the weather had made it a battle to make par.
'Bogey-free on the final round, final group, as well, because the pin positions were so tough today, as well. We got a lot of wind, and then a lot of nerves and excitement for sure,' she said.
'I just really told myself to be patient out there. I know I was just trying to keep my ball where I have a chance to make it, but if I not make it, I'm fine because I know not every putt or not every hole that we're going to make it for sure,' added the Thai, who finished tied for 24th at last week's first Major of the year, the Chevron Championship.
'But I think my big key today is making par.'
Boutier cancelled out her three birdies with three bogeys but was pleased to be in contention as she looks forward to the next Major, the US Women's Open in Wisconsin in June.
'A very solid week overall. Definitely a little bit disappointed with my finish today, but feel pretty happy with where my game is at,' she said. 'Just need to tweak a few things before my next tournament, which is the US Open, so it's very encouraging to have a good result here at such a good tournament.'
Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Andrea Lee of the United States finished tied for third place.
Defending champion and world No. 1 Nelly Korda had started the day in contention, just two shots behind Jeeno. But while the Thai progressed, Korda had four bogeys in a one-over 73. AFP
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘No faking' about Oakmont says injured Tiger Woods ahead of US Open
Tiger Woods warned US Open golfers in a social media video on June 11 about the formidable Oakmont course.. PHOTO: REUTERS 'No faking' about Oakmont says injured Tiger Woods ahead of US Open OAKMONT, United States - Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner sidelined after rupturing his left Achilles tendon in March, warned US Open golfers in a social media video on June 11 there's 'no faking' about Oakmont. The 49-year-old American, a three-time US Open champion, underwent surgery to repair the injury but has no timetable for his return to competitive golf as he misses the US Open for the fourth time in five years. In an Instagram post, Woods gave this week's US Open field some advice about coping with the deep rough, tricky bunkers and fast greens of Oakmont, as well as a warning. 'You just have to hit the golf ball better,' Woods said. 'There is no faking about Oakmont. 'The golf course is big, yes, but it's just – there's no way around it. You just have to hit the golf ball well and it favors longer hitters, just because of the degrees, the complexes.' Being in the fairway to properly approach the greens is crucial as well, Woods said. 'It just helps so much to be coming with a shorter iron, to be able to sock the ball,' he said. 'It's about missing the ball on correct spots... because if you don't, it's horrible.' Woods shared second at the 2007 US Open at Oakmont but missed the 2016 edition of the event on the same course following back surgery the year before. Woods has not made the cut at the US Open since he shared 21st in 2019, the same year he won his most recent major title at the Masters. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Scottie Scheffler set for ‘hardest' test at Oakmont for US Open
Scottie Scheffler of the United States playing a shot from the bunker on the 13th hole, during a practice round prior to the US Open, on June 11. PHOTO: AFP Scottie Scheffler set for 'hardest' test at Oakmont for US Open OAKMONT, United States - World number one Scottie Scheffler said on June 11 the formidable Oakmont course could provide 'the hardest' challenge of his career at the 125th US Open this week. Lightning-fast sloped greens combined with deep, dense rough and bunkers designed to leave balls along the edges had many players calling it the toughest layout they have faced as Oakmont hosts a record 10th US Open. 'This is probably the hardest golf course that we'll play, maybe ever,' said Scheffler, who won May's PGA Championship for his third major title, ahead of the June 12 opening round. Second-ranked Rory McIlroy, who won the Masters in April to complete a career Grand Slam, called Oakmont a 'big brute' and added: 'You're going to have to have your wits about you this week all the way.' Not since American Jordan Spieth captured the 2015 Masters and US Open has anyone won consecutive majors, but two-time Masters winner Scheffler is on a hot streak. Scheffler has won three of his past four starts, matching a PGA Tour record for low 72-hole total to take the Byron Nelson and defending his Memorial title 10 days ago in addition to his major triumph. 'He's in the middle of every fairway,' third-ranked Xander Schauffele said of Scheffler. 'It takes a serious amount of discipline to play away from pins and hit really good shots to safe targets, and that's what it takes to play well at US Opens.' Three-time major winner Spieth said most players will pitch onto fairways from the thick rough rather than try to blast out short of the green. 'It magnifies once you make a mistake if you don't play the right shot,' Spieth said. 'It may cost you half a shot to get back in the fairway a little further up. 'They give you more green here to entice you into doing more than you should. There's some risk-reward on this place. You've got to avoid compounding mistakes for sure.' Finding the fairway is crucial, McIlroy said. 'Decent lies in the rough are few and far between,' McIlroy said. 'You don't want to ride your luck on this golf course. 'You hit the ball in the rough and you're not going to have any control of your ball going into the green, especially these greens that are pitched away from you. 'You have to be able to spin the ball going into these greens if you want it to finish anywhere close to where you want.' Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy playing a shot from the bunker on the fourth hole, during a practice round prior to the US Open, on June 11. PHOTO: AFP 'There was no loft' And sometimes the rough just wins. 'I had some lies that were not playable,' fourth-ranked Collin Morikawa said of his time in the rough during practice rounds. 'There was no loft.' Scheffler, who turns 29 the Saturday after the tournament, made his major debut at Oakmont at the 2016 US Open, missing the cut as a 19-year-old amateur with his older sister Callie serving as his caddie. One year later, Scheffler was low amateur at the US Open and five years after that, he was a Masters champion. 'I remember coming here and thinking it was really fun, really cool to be able to play in the US Open,' Scheffler said. 'But what I really remembered was coming back the next year and... finishing low am.' Scheffler also recalled rushing off the course to watch game six of the 2016 NBA Finals, when LeBron James led Cleveland to victory on the way to taking the title over Stephen Curry and Golden State. 'This year's finals is probably not going to affect my schedule as much,' Scheffler said. 'Golden State was playing Cleveland and I really wanted to watch that because you had LeBron playing Steph.' The devoted Dallas Mavericks fan has struggled since his team traded star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. 'Ever since the Mavs traded Luka, I've been a little bummed watching the NBA. Hurts a little bit still,' he said. 'We'll have to regroup and get ready for next season for the Mavs.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Oakmont's lone tree offers reprieve for sun-kissed U.S. Open fans
Jun 11, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; General view of the on the 18th green in front of the clubhouse during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images REUTERS OAKMONT, Pennsylvania - Shortly beyond the third tee box at Oakmont Country Club sits the only tree on the interior of the course, a stately American elm whose sprawling branches provide the only reprieve from the blaring sun at this week's U.S. Open. The 120-year-old tree may not be anywhere near as famous as Oakmont's Church Pews Bunker but it has been more popular this week for sun-kissed golf fans drawn in by the promise of shade and cool grass under its canopy. "We've been here since about 8 o'clock this morning in the sun the entire time and this is the only shade we could find," Mark Finley, a 41-year-old accountant from New Jersey, told Reuters while he set up his chair under the tree. The typical American golf course has trees, and lots of them. There was even a time when Oakmont, which opened in 1904 and this week is hosting the U.S. Open for a record 10th time, was transformed into a traditional "parkland" course with trees. Oakmont, the vision of late founder Henry C. Fownes, was originally designed as an "inland links" course styled after the open and barren nature of Britain's traditional links courses despite not being set along a large body of water. During the 1950s thousands of trees were planted and by the early 1980s the course hardly resembled its original rugged identity as trees flanked all 18 holes. But, in a bid to revive Oakmont's original links-style identity, a tree-removal process began in earnest during the mid-1990s and ultimately led to some 15,000 trees removed. While there are still trees along the outer edges of the course, the purge left just one remaining on the interior of the layout. The tree does not come into play, leaving the layout effectively treeless. Devin Gee, head professional at Oakmont, told Reuters the tree at the Oakmont's third hole has not only escaped weather-related damage but has never been suggested for removal. "I wouldn't say it's because people think it's such a magnificent tree," said Gee. "It doesn't come into play, it doesn't come into line of flight or the way the hole plays in any way whatsoever. "But it's left standing, it's just sort of been the one that made it through for sure." For golf fans looking to get their souvenir U.S. Open pin flag signed by the likes of world number one Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, the tree is serving as the perfect waiting area. "It's a pretty nice day out, pretty hot, sun is beating down on us a little bit so to get out of the sun we came over here for shade and are waiting to see if we can get an autograph," said Rocco Jerrome, a 15-year-old golf fan from West Virginia. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
