The two-time winner of the event is in prime position heading to the weekend.
Momoko Ueda is accustomed to having success at the Toto Japan Classic.
She won the event in 2007 and again in 2011. A day after saying the golf course setup made her uncomfortable, she is the 36-hole leader for the LPGA’s event in Japan at 10-under 134, one of five Japanese players at the top of the leaderboard following the second round at Seta Golf Course.
Yet even after playing well enough to hold the lead, Ueda said it took her time to settle into the round.
“I was not in a good mood in the first 5 holes,” Ueda said. “During that time, Ai (Suzuki) and Sakura (Koiwai) made good putts and played well. So, I tried to catch up with them and not to think conservatively.”
Ueda recorded five straight pars to begin before a birdie on the sixth. A bogey on her ninth hole led to an even-par front nine, but her scorecard was colorful on the back nine. She had four birdies on Nos. 10, 13, 14 and 17 with one bogey to shoot 3-under 69 in the second round.
Miyu Yamashita and Suzuki are tied for second at 9 under. Suzuki was tied with Ueda for the lead after the first round but is hoping for more on the weekend after a 2-under performance on Friday.
“Hope today is the worst day of this week,” Suzuki said. “I need 60’s for the next 2 days.”
New world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul sits tied for eighth at 6 under after a 5-under 67 on Friday.
“I had a really good round today,” Thitikul said. “A lot better than yesterday. But I think I have more to practice with my tee shot and driver because I don’t think it’s good enough for these narrow fairways.”
Winning the tournament again in 2019, Thitikul turned professional at the start of 2020. After a forced break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thitikul broke through with her first pro win at the Thai LPGA Championship.
Thitikul began playing regularly on the European Tour in 2021 and yet again made an impact. A win at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open would be her third European Tour title, but first as a professional.
With European Merit of Order and Rookie of the Year honors in tote, Thitikul qualified for the LPGA with a third place finish at Q-School.
Making her debut on the LPGA Tour in March of 2022, Thitikul did not have to wait too long for her first LPGA win.
Japanese players pack the top of the leaderboard after the first round in Japan.
Ai Suzuki won the last co-sanctioned edition of the LPGA’s Toto Japan Classic in 2019 but did not take LPGA membership. This week, she co-leads with compatriot Momoko Ueda after an opening 7-under 65. Ueda won this event in 2007 and 2011. Japanese players occupy the top five positions on the leaderboard at Seta Golf Course.
A 17-time winner on the JLPGA, Suzuki has five top-10 finishes this season but no victories.
“I am struggling with my swing,” said Suzuki of her winless 2022. “I had a swing coach, but it did not work well. Then I made a decision to play without coach anymore, and it just start go well.”
Ai Suzuki on the 18th green during the first round of the TOTO Japan Classic at Seta Golf Course North Course on Nov. 3, 2022 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)
Ueda posted five consecutive birdies from Nos. 10-14. She changed driver shafts this week and put a new putter in the bag. But it was the golf course setup that made her uncomfortable.
“Order of holes has been changed since I played here before,” she said. “That is why I could not remember each hole exactly until I came and see every hole. That is why I could not feel comfortable during my play today.”
Miyuu Yamashita, the best player on the JLPGA this year, opened with a 67. Yamashita is a three-time winner this season. She leads the JLPGA in top-10 finishes (18) and scoring (70.16). This is Yamashita’s second career LPGA start. She tied for 13th in her debut at the 2022 AIG Women’s British Open.
Newly minted No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul opened with a 71 to take a share of 30th. At the start of her round, her caddie, Banpot Bunpisansaree, was presented with the green caddie bib that recognizes the top-ranked player. Thitikul, 19, is a two-time winner this season and leads the tour in top-10 finishes with 14.
“I meant a lot to me, but I think it meant a lot more to him,” said Thitikul. “I think he dreams of wearing the green bib since day one of caddying for me.”
Linn Grant shot 69 despite early-week travel delays. The LET star was only able to play nine holes on Wednesday in her only practice round. She walked the back nine.
“Thank God we started on No. 1 so we got into it a bit,” she said. “I don’t feel too uncomfortable doing that, I feel like I got a good view of the back nine from just walking but it is a bit terrifying. Having the crowds here is nice, and I think my focus just turns on a bit more. I think today was a bonus for not playing which was nice.”
“I’m just trying to improve myself and be myself every day.”
Atthaya Thitikul will tee it up as the No. 1 player in the world for the first time this week at the Toto Japan Classic. The 19-year-old joins Lydia Ko as the only teenagers to reach No. 1. Thitikul, who goes by the nickname “Jeeno,” is also the second rookie in history to become No. 1, along with South Korea’s Sung Hyun Park.
“I hadn’t thought that I would be No. 1 in the world that fast,” said Thitikul during a pre-tournament press conference in Japan. “And I didn’t think I would achieve this in my first year on the LPGA as well. Overall, I’m feeling great. Feeling grateful that this has happened this year.”
With three events left on the LPGA schedule in 2022, Thitikul will skip next week’s Pelican LPGA Championship and close out her season at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida. She joins Ariya Jutanugarn as the only Thai players to reach No. 1.
“Being No. 1 is pressure,” said Thitikul. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be No. 1 in the world, but at least it’s just a ranking. But, what you have to do is improve yourself a lot. I mean, no matter where I am – No. 1, 10, 20, or 100 – I’m just trying to improve myself and be myself every day that I play as a person and as a competitor as well.”
Here are five things to know about the humble prodigy who now sits on top of the world:
“I’m just trying to improve myself and be myself every day.”
Atthaya Thitikul will tee it up as the No. 1 player in the world for the first time this week at the Toto Japan Classic. The 19-year-old joins Lydia Ko as the only teenagers to reach No. 1. Thitikul, who goes by the nickname “Jeeno,” is also the second rookie in history to become No. 1, along with South Korea’s Sung Hyun Park.
“I hadn’t thought that I would be No. 1 in the world that fast,” said Thitikul during a pre-tournament press conference in Japan. “And I didn’t think I would achieve this in my first year on the LPGA as well. Overall, I’m feeling great. Feeling grateful that this has happened this year.”
With three events left on the LPGA schedule in 2022, Thitikul will skip next week’s Pelican LPGA Championship and close out her season at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida. She joins Ariya Jutanugarn as the only Thai players to reach No. 1.
“Being No. 1 is pressure,” said Thitikul. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be No. 1 in the world, but at least it’s just a ranking. But, what you have to do is improve yourself a lot. I mean, no matter where I am – No. 1, 10, 20, or 100 – I’m just trying to improve myself and be myself every day that I play as a person and as a competitor as well.”
Here are five things to know about the humble prodigy who now sits on top of the world:
Minjee Lee and Atthaya Thitikul are dueling it out in the Aon Risk Reward Challenge. The winner of the season-long race earns $1 million.
Minjee Lee and Atthaya Thitikul have much to play for as the LPGA season winds down, including a couple of seven-figure checks. In addition to the CME Group Tour Championship’s record-setting $2 million winner’s check, they currently top the standings in the Aon Risk Reward Challenge.
Both players are in the field at this week’s Toto Japan Classic, where the challenge hole is the par-5 13th at Seta Golf Course, set at 476 yards. The Aon insight says that from the fairway, 27 percent of the field is expected to successfully reach the green.
The winner of the season-long race earns $1 million. When Lee won the U.S. Women’s Open in June, she earned a first-place check of $1,800,000. So far this season, 22 players have crossed the $1 million mark in earnings.
Players take their best two scores from each Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole, with the winners having the best average score to par at the end of the regular season. Only two events remain before a winner will be decided. Neither Lee nor Thitikul will be competing in Pelican LPGA Championship, Nov. 10-13, which means this is their final event to make a move.
Atthaya Thitikul looks on on the 6th hole during day two of the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Lee currently holds the lead with a season-long average score to par of -0.912. Thitikul, who just moved to No. 1 in the world, is at -0.891.
If Lee records two birdies this week, her season-long average would move to -0.917, requiring Thitikul to record an eagle and a birdie to tie her score.
If Lee makes a par and a birdie on the hole, her score will move down to -0.899.
Should Lee make a birdie and an eagle, she’d all but lock up the competition.
Thitikul could move into first place with a pair of eagles. A birdie and an eagle would move her to -0.917, which would tie Lee, should she record two birdies.
China’s Xiyu Lin is not in the field in Japan. She’ll need at least one eagle, possibly two, at the Pelican next week to have a chance.
Thitikul and Lee are tied for 12th on the LPGA in par-5 scoring at 4.62. Lin is second at 4.56 behind Jennifer Kupcho (4.54).
Previous winners of the Aon include Carlota Ciganda and Hannah Green. Scottie Scheffler won the Aon Risk Reward Challenge on the PGA Tour and the $1 million prize a year ago.
Thitikul, 19, becomes the second teen to ascend to No. 1, following in the footsteps of Lydia Ko.
Atthaya Thitikul has officially supplanted Jin Young Ko as the No. 1 player in the world. Thitikul, 19, becomes the second teen to ascend to No. 1, following in the footsteps of Lydia Ko, who was 17 years, 9 months and 9 days when she reached the top spot in 2015.
Ko, who has held the top spot since Jan. 31, 2022, first became No. 1 in April 2019 and has spent 152 total weeks atop the rankings. Lorena Ochoa holds the record at 158 weeks.
Thitikul, a rookie who has two wins this season, also joins Ariya Jutanugarn as the only Thai players to reach No. 1. Thitikul joins Sung Hyun Park as the only rookies to reach no. 1. She currently leads the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year race and is in the mix for LPGA Player of the Year.
“It means a lot for my team, my family, my supporters and myself. It is such an honor to have my name at the top amongst the biggest names of the game,” said Thitikul in a release. “It is very special to get to the top but it is much harder to retain it. I still have a lot to learn from all the legends and current players both on and off the course. I will continue to work hard for my family, my team, my fans and my country.”
Prior to joining the LPGA, Thitikul became the youngest player ever to win the Ladies European Tour’s Race to Costa del Sol in 2021 while also securing Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors. At 14 years, 4 months and 19 days, Thitikul also became the youngest golfer to ever win a professional golf tournament with her victory at the LET’s Thailand Championship in 2017.
The Rolex Rankings debuted in 2006 with Annika Sorenstam on top. Here’s a closer look at the youngest players to reach the game’s pinnacle.
Atthaya Thitikul had a chance to rise to No. 1 in the world last week at the BMW Ladies Championship with a fourth-place finish. The 19-year-old Thai teen held the lead heading into the final round in South Korea but struggled to a 74 in the final round, dropping her to solo sixth.
Thitikul, who will compete next week in Japan, remains No. 2 in the world and still has a chance to become only the second teenager to rise to No. 1.
Jin Young Ko, the current top-ranked player, withdrew from the BMW with a wrist injury and plans to return for the last two events of the year in Florida.
The Rolex Rankings debuted in February 2006 with Annika Sorenstam on top. Here’s a closer look at the youngest players to reach the game’s pinnacle:
Now with 18 career titles, Ko sits 30th on the LPGA’s career wins list, joining Meg Mallon and Hollis Stacy.
Lydia Ko teared up on the 18th when her last putt dropped at the BMW Ladies Championship. A prolific winner worldwide since her teenage years, the 25-year-old Ko always wanted to win in her native South Korea.
The former world No. 1 birdied three of the last four holes to clinch her second title of 2022, closing with a 7-under 65 to best Andrea Lee by four strokes. Overnight leader Atthaya Thitikul had a chance to rise to No. 1 after this week, but a disappointing 74 dropped her into sixth place. The Thai teen needed to finish solo fourth to have a chance.
“I think this week more than ever, I said I really, really want to win in Korea,” said Ko, “and I think maybe that was a good mindset or I was hypnotizing myself to try to get it done, but that’s why it means so much to me.
“Every time I come back to Korea, even though I play under the New Zealand flag, so many people support me, so many people go (Korean). I think that is such a boost.”
Lydia Ko of New Zealand is poured champagne after winning the tournament on the 18th green during the final round of the BMW Ladies Championship at Oak Valley Country Club on October 23, 2022 in Wonju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
This also marked the first time Ko’s father has seen her compete in person in 2½ years. Ko teared up again at the thought of having him there.
Ko calls this her most consistent season to date. She hasn’t missed a cut in 20 starts and in addition to her two wins has nine additional top-5 finishes.
She became the fifth player to win multiple times this season, joining Jennifer Kupcho (3), Minjee Lee (2), Brooke Henderson (2) and Thitikul (2).
Now with 18 career titles, Ko sits 30th on the LPGA’s career wins list, joining Meg Mallon and Hollis Stacy. It’s the first time she has won multiple titles in one season since 2016.
“I think this is probably the best I’ve played, the most consistently I’ve played. When I was No. 1, I just had more wins in that season. I don’t think I’ve had as many top 10s,” said Ko. “I wanted to finish my season off strong, including this one, with only three events to go. To be able to win this one means a lot, and I think it gives me good motivation for my last couple of events in Florida.”
Ko came into this event with a sizable lead over Minjee Lee in the Vare Trophy race for the season’s lowest scoring average. She won the award last season as well, earning an LPGA Hall of Fame point in the process. A player must earn 27 points to enter the LPGA HOF. Ko currently has 22 points.
Victory in Korea! 🇰🇷
Check out Lydia Ko's final round highlights from the BMW Ladies Championship! pic.twitter.com/2lVsbVfSGh
Earlier in the week, Ko pointed to her even-keeled approach to the second half of the season as a key to her success. She also mentioned that she’s in a good place in life off the course as well. Ko and her fiancé, Chung Jun, plan to get married in December.
“I have to say, wherever my fiancé is, he is always in my heart, so it’s like he is near me,” Ko said, when asked if he was on hand for the victory.
“I have a lot of people congratulate me and a lot of people are very much interested, and so I really thank them for their support and interest. I have a lot of fans coming up to me and congratulating me, so I’m very grateful for the attention and congratulations I’m getting.
“However, this is the BMW Ladies Championship, and I don’t want to take away from this event, so I hope you understand I would like to conclude my comments about my marriage with that.”
Ko heads into the last three events of the season with much on the line. She will skip the next event in Japan and play the last two in Florida. The victory in South Korea moved her one point ahead of Lee in the Rolex Player of the Year race, an award she won in 2015. Brooke Henderson is 20 points back, and Thitikul trails by 21.
A player must finish inside the top 10 to earn POY points, with a victory garnering 30 points.
Despite the poor finish, the rookie Thitikul left South Korea feeling good about her game after seeing her swing coach in person for the first time since August. She will compete next on the LPGA in Japan.
As for the prospect of becoming the second teenager to rise to No. 1 in the world, Thitikul brushed it aside.
“I mean, to be honest, I don’t really care about the ranking,” she said ahead of Sunday’s round. “I don’t really care to be like No. 1 in the world at all because I play golf because I want to take care of my family. I want to feed my family. Whatever I am is fine. Even my family, they have a good life already.
Atthaya Thitikul would move to No. 1 in the world with a win.
It has been a season to remember for 19-year-old Atthaya Thitikul.
The LPGA rookie from Thailand sits third in the season-long Race to CME Globe points race, having recorded two LPGA wins and one Ladies European Tour win. She’s ranked second in the Rolex rankings
In South Korea, Thitikul is again proving she’s among the game’s elite as a teenager. She fired a third-round 5-under 67 to move into first at the BMW Ladies Championship at Oak Valley Country Club. She leads Lydia Ko and Andrea Lee by one shot and Lilia Vu by two heading into Sunday’s final round. It’s a packed leaderboard, but five birdies on the back nine for Thitikul give her the advantage heading to Sunday.
“I tried to keep making birdies on the last nine holes because I don’t have that much birdies on the front nine,” Thitikul said. “Just trying to, like, put my ball in the position that I can make an easy birdie.”
Thitikul is at 15 under, and if she gets win No. 3, it would move her to No. 1 in the world. In fact, a solo fourth or better would elevate her to the top spot.
“To be honest, I don’t really care about the ranking, she said. “I don’t really care to be like No. 1 in the world at all because I play golf because I want to take care of my family. I want to feed my family. Whatever I am is fine. Even my family, they have a good life already. Ranking is not that important for me for real.”
Jin Young Ko, who is the current No. 1 and the defending champion of the event, withdrew before the third round. She was in last place (80-79) coming off an injury.
Lydia Ko, who’s at 14 under after a third-round 66, is increasing her case to win the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. But it’s safe to say even she’s impressed by how the teenager has been dominating on tour.
“The golf at that Atthaya has been played has been absolutely amazing, and I think she’s going to run to be World No. 1,” Ko said.
Yet the field is chasing Thitikul, who’s closing in on becoming the top-ranked female golfer in the world. But ask Thitikul, and the possible achievement is just a number.
“I mean, to be honest, I don’t really care about the ranking. I don’t really care to be like No. 1 in the world at all because I play golf because I want to take care of my family,” Thirikul said. “Ranking is not that important for me for real.”
