Latest news with #RacetoCMEGlobe
RTÉ News
29-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Leona Maguire flying well below radar for US Open challenge
Leona Maguire is the sole Irish entrant in this week's US Women's Open, which is being played at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. The former amateur world number one, Solheim Cup star and two-time LPGA Tour winner's form has come under scrutiny this year, having missed back-to-back cuts in her last two tournaments. The current world rankings also reveal a major dip, as Maguire has fallen from 29th to 80th place over the last 12 months. And yet, they were the only two cuts out of eleven events played in 2025 that the Cavan native has missed, while enjoying a top-ten and a couple of top-25 finishes since the turn of the year. Overall, Maguire is just having a very average season on the world's toughest and highest quality women's golf tour, sitting in 51st place on the Race to CME Globe, and well inside the prestigious top 60, which earns a place at the season ending Tour Championship. In an era where statistics are available for almost every facet of the game, there is one glaring figure that jumps out, and where Maguire really is losing ground on the world's top players – driving distance. The world's top 40 are all hitting the ball, on average, over 270 yards off the tee, while Maguire is languishing in 146th position, with a very modest 241.88 yards. As a result, there is a real disadvantage when it comes to approach play, giving up such valuable distances to her competitors, leaving her in 76th place when it comes to strokes gained in that category, which is calculated on all shots from outside 50 yards. However, there does not appear to be anything wrong with Maguire's confidence or mentality as her work inside 50 yards is up there with the best, 14th in strokes gained around the green, suggesting her touch and composure with the scoring clubs is not a real concern. All it really means at this point of the season is that Maguire can arrive at this week's major – the second of the season – firmly under the radar, and can play without the pressure of trying to become the first Irish woman to win a major. Maguire is among the late starters on Thursday and tees it up for the first two days alongside Mexico's Gaby Lopez and South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim. The trio start their first round from the tenth hole, teeing off at 7:14pm (Irish time) on Thursday. It is the first time that the tournament has come to Erin Hills, however, the venue did host the men's equivalent back in 2017, where Brooks Koepka won the title. A daunting track with penal rough and a range of very challenging holes, it is no surprise that the favourites for the tournament are the in-form selection knocking around the top of the current rankings. The field will be playing for the largest ever purse in a women's event with $12 million up for grabs, and as usual, all eyes will be on world number one, Nelly Korda, who will be looking to land her third major having won the Women's PGA Championship in 2021 and last year's Chevron Championship. But Korda is still trying to rediscover that dominating form that led to a seven-win season in 2024, and has yet to win on tour this year. "I mean, it's the biggest test in golf," said Korda. "It definitely has tested me a lot. I love it. At the end of the day, this is why we do what we do, is to play these golf courses in these conditions, to test our games in every aspect." Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul has been the dominant player on tour this year with one victory and six top tens from the eight events that she has competed in, and she certainly looks the one to beat this week. Others in the conversation include Yuka Saso, who is chasing her third US Women's Open title at Erin Hills, the in-form Rio Takeda from Japan, South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, and American Angel Yin, while it will be worth keeping an eye on 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur winner Carla Bernat Escuder from Spain. As from where the European challenge will come from; France's Celine Boutier has shown the best form throughout 2025, while Germany's Esther Henseleit has two top-ten finishes to her name this year.
Mint
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Jeeno Thitikul earns first win of 25 at Mizuho Americas Open
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand won the Mizuho Americas Open by four shots, finishing with a 3-under 69 on Sunday to secure her first victory of the season in Jersey City, N.J. Notching her first LPGA title since the CME Group Tour Championship in November, the 22-year-old Thitikul played a bogey-free round at windy Liberty National Golf Club to beat France's Celine Boutier and finish at 17-under 271. "I have no idea how I can do out there," said Thitikul, who sank three birdies in the final round for her fifth LPGA Tour victory. "I mean, 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." Thitikul took home $450,000, which put her over $1 million for the season and back in the lead for the Race to CME Globe. Boutier, who entered the final round trailing by one shot, was seeking her first victory since she won four events in 2023, including back-to-back titles at the Evian Championship and Women's Scottish Open and a playoff win over Thitikul at the Maybank Championship. However, Boutier's three bogeys proved costly as she shot an even-par 72 and went 13-under 275 for the week. "Definitely a little bit disappointed with my finish today, but feel pretty happy with where my game is at," Boutier said after her third top-10 finish of the season. "Just need to tweak a few things before my next tournament, which is the U.S. Open, so it's very encouraging to have a good result here on such a good tournament." Andrea Lee (72 on Sunday) and Spain's Carlota Ciganda (70) finished in a tie for third at 12-under 276. One shot behind them was the trio of World No. 1 Nelly Korda (73) -- who won the event last year -- along with Yealimi Noh (72) and Australia's Stephanie Kyriacou (67). "I'm pretty happy with where the game is at," Lee said after her second straight top-10 finish. "Obviously a little bit disappointing today. Just couldn't really get anything going. But I stayed super patient out there, tried to stay positive, and I feel like I just played really solid golf but couldn't get any momentum today. But yeah, overall just super satisfied." Korda remained winless on the year, but was within one shot of Thitikul until she bogeyed the par-4 ninth hole. On the back nine, Korda fell out of contention due to a pair of bogeys and no birdies.
The Advertiser
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Kyriacou shines but can't catch Thitikul in LPGA event
Steph Kyriacou has fallen short in her bid for a first LPGA Tour title despite a brilliant final round as Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul closed with a three-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its $4 million prize to end last season, played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National over the weekend to win for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career. Kyriacou had to settle for a tie for fifth after shooting a five-under 67, featuring seven birdies, which proved the best round of the day by anyone. Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-four ninth and taking bogey. It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way. The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet. Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin. Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to three feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey. So, instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play. On the 16th, Boutier missed an eight-foot birdie putt and Thitikul made her par putt from seven feet to stay three shots behind. Thitikul all but ended the tournament with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and she capped off a clean par with a par save on the 18th. "I know that a lot of putts didn't drop on the front nine, but I'm trying to do my best," Thitikul said. "I was just trying to tell myself, 'Be patient, it's coming, it's coming.' That's pretty much what I told myself today." Thitikul finished at 17-under 271, while Boutier shot 72 to finish second, followed by Carlota Ciganda (70) and Andrea Lee (72), with Kyriacou level in fifth with Korda (73) and Yealimi Noh (72). Steph Kyriacou has fallen short in her bid for a first LPGA Tour title despite a brilliant final round as Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul closed with a three-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its $4 million prize to end last season, played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National over the weekend to win for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career. Kyriacou had to settle for a tie for fifth after shooting a five-under 67, featuring seven birdies, which proved the best round of the day by anyone. Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-four ninth and taking bogey. It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way. The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet. Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin. Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to three feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey. So, instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play. On the 16th, Boutier missed an eight-foot birdie putt and Thitikul made her par putt from seven feet to stay three shots behind. Thitikul all but ended the tournament with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and she capped off a clean par with a par save on the 18th. "I know that a lot of putts didn't drop on the front nine, but I'm trying to do my best," Thitikul said. "I was just trying to tell myself, 'Be patient, it's coming, it's coming.' That's pretty much what I told myself today." Thitikul finished at 17-under 271, while Boutier shot 72 to finish second, followed by Carlota Ciganda (70) and Andrea Lee (72), with Kyriacou level in fifth with Korda (73) and Yealimi Noh (72). Steph Kyriacou has fallen short in her bid for a first LPGA Tour title despite a brilliant final round as Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul closed with a three-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its $4 million prize to end last season, played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National over the weekend to win for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career. Kyriacou had to settle for a tie for fifth after shooting a five-under 67, featuring seven birdies, which proved the best round of the day by anyone. Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-four ninth and taking bogey. It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way. The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet. Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin. Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to three feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey. So, instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play. On the 16th, Boutier missed an eight-foot birdie putt and Thitikul made her par putt from seven feet to stay three shots behind. Thitikul all but ended the tournament with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and she capped off a clean par with a par save on the 18th. "I know that a lot of putts didn't drop on the front nine, but I'm trying to do my best," Thitikul said. "I was just trying to tell myself, 'Be patient, it's coming, it's coming.' That's pretty much what I told myself today." Thitikul finished at 17-under 271, while Boutier shot 72 to finish second, followed by Carlota Ciganda (70) and Andrea Lee (72), with Kyriacou level in fifth with Korda (73) and Yealimi Noh (72). Steph Kyriacou has fallen short in her bid for a first LPGA Tour title despite a brilliant final round as Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul closed with a three-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its $4 million prize to end last season, played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National over the weekend to win for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career. Kyriacou had to settle for a tie for fifth after shooting a five-under 67, featuring seven birdies, which proved the best round of the day by anyone. Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-four ninth and taking bogey. It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way. The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet. Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin. Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to three feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey. So, instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play. On the 16th, Boutier missed an eight-foot birdie putt and Thitikul made her par putt from seven feet to stay three shots behind. Thitikul all but ended the tournament with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and she capped off a clean par with a par save on the 18th. "I know that a lot of putts didn't drop on the front nine, but I'm trying to do my best," Thitikul said. "I was just trying to tell myself, 'Be patient, it's coming, it's coming.' That's pretty much what I told myself today." Thitikul finished at 17-under 271, while Boutier shot 72 to finish second, followed by Carlota Ciganda (70) and Andrea Lee (72), with Kyriacou level in fifth with Korda (73) and Yealimi Noh (72).
Perth Now
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Kyriacou shines but can't catch Thitikul in LPGA event
Steph Kyriacou has fallen short in her bid for a first LPGA Tour title despite a brilliant final round as Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul closed with a three-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its $4 million prize to end last season, played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National over the weekend to win for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career. Kyriacou had to settle for a tie for fifth after shooting a five-under 67, featuring seven birdies, which proved the best round of the day by anyone. Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-four ninth and taking bogey. It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way. The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet. Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin. Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to three feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey. So, instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play. On the 16th, Boutier missed an eight-foot birdie putt and Thitikul made her par putt from seven feet to stay three shots behind. Thitikul all but ended the tournament with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and she capped off a clean par with a par save on the 18th. "I know that a lot of putts didn't drop on the front nine, but I'm trying to do my best," Thitikul said. "I was just trying to tell myself, 'Be patient, it's coming, it's coming.' That's pretty much what I told myself today." Thitikul finished at 17-under 271, while Boutier shot 72 to finish second, followed by Carlota Ciganda (70) and Andrea Lee (72), with Kyriacou level in fifth with Korda (73) and Yealimi Noh (72).
West Australian
11-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Kyriacou shines but can't catch Thitikul in LPGA event
Steph Kyriacou has fallen short in her bid for a first LPGA Tour title despite a brilliant final round as Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul closed with a three-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its $4 million prize to end last season, played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National over the weekend to win for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career. Kyriacou had to settle for a tie for fifth after shooting a five-under 67, featuring seven birdies, which proved the best round of the day by anyone. Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-four ninth and taking bogey. It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way. The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet. Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin. Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to three feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey. So, instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play. On the 16th, Boutier missed an eight-foot birdie putt and Thitikul made her par putt from seven feet to stay three shots behind. Thitikul all but ended the tournament with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and she capped off a clean par with a par save on the 18th. "I know that a lot of putts didn't drop on the front nine, but I'm trying to do my best," Thitikul said. "I was just trying to tell myself, 'Be patient, it's coming, it's coming.' That's pretty much what I told myself today." Thitikul finished at 17-under 271, while Boutier shot 72 to finish second, followed by Carlota Ciganda (70) and Andrea Lee (72), with Kyriacou level in fifth with Korda (73) and Yealimi Noh (72).
