Grant Thornton Invitational 2024 odds, course history and picks to win

Golf’s silly season rolls on in Naples.

The PGA Tour’s silly season rolls on this week in Naples, Florida, with the Grant Thornton Invitational, where Tour stars will be partnered in two-person teams with their LPGA counterparts.

Some of the notable duos include Tony Finau and Nelly Korda, defending champions Jason Day and Lydia Ko, Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson, and Sahith Theegala and Allisen Corpuz.

Grant Thornton: Full field, teams

Tiburon Golf Club will play host, and if that name sounds familiar to you, this Greg Norman-designed track is the annual home of the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship. This year’s CME winner, Jeeno Thitikul, is in the Grant Thornton field and paired with fan-favorite Tom Kim.

Each round of the three-day tournament — action gets underway Friday — will feature a different format. Friday will be a scramble, Saturday will be foursomes and Sunday will be modified four-ball.

Golf course

Tiburon Golf Club | Par 72 | 7,382 yards

2023 Grant Thornton Invitational
Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Jason Day of Australia walk from the third tee during the second round of the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club on December 09, 2023, in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Grant Thornton Invitational betting odds

Team Odds Team Odds
Korda/Finau (+450) Thitikul/Kim (+500)
Ko/Day (+700) Henderson/Conners (+800)
Corpuz/Theegala (+1100) Kupcho/Bhatia (+1200)
Coughlin/Young (+1400) Boutier/Pavon (+1400)
Thompson/Fowler (+1400) Lee/Greyserman (+1600)
Khang/Kuchar (+1600) Stark/Poston (+1800)
Ruffels/Dunlap (+1800) Vu/List (+2200)
Tavatanakit/Knapp (+2500) Reid/Champ (+5500)

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Grant Thornton Invitational picks to win

Jeeno Thitikul and Tom Kim

CME Group Tour Championship 2024
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand poses with the trophy after winning the CME Group Tour Championship 2024 at Tiburon Golf Club on November 24, 2024, in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Odds: 5/1

Analysis: This pick may seem obvious — and that’s because it is. Thitikul won on this very golf course just a few weeks ago, and Kim is fresh off a runner-up finish to Scottie Scheffler at the Hero World Challenge. Tough not to pick the hot hands.

Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners

2023 Grant Thornton Invitational
Corey Conners of Canada and Brooke M. Henderson of Canada walk from the second tee during the second round of the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club on December 09, 2023, in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Odds: 8/1

Analysis: The Canadian duo is a great team to add to your card. Conners was in South Africa last week for the Nedbank Golf Challenge and finished the event in a tie for sixth. Henderson made it to the LPGA finale and tied for eighth. This team finished second to Day/Ko last year.

Jennifer Kupcho and Akshay Bhatia

Akshay Bhatia of the United States follows a shot on the third hole during the final round of the Hero World Challenge 2024 at Albany Golf Course on December 08, 2024, in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Odds: 12/1

Analysis: Kupcho didn’t quite have the week Thitikul did at Tiburon in November, but she did finish in a tie for 12th. Her teammate Bhatia, like Kim, played in the Hero last week and grabbed solo fourth. Another partnership featuring two players in good form.

Nelly Korda is one of three LPGA stars among highest-paid female athletes in 2024

Korda won $4.4 million on the course in 2024.

Seven wins, over $4 million in on-course earnings and an appearance in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue — 2024 was the year of Nelly Korda. And now she’s among the highest-paid female athletes in the world, according to Sportico.

Korda, Jeeno Thitikul and Lydia Ko, three of the biggest stars on the LPGA, ranked inside the top 15: Korda (eighth), Thitikul (12th) and Ko (15th).

The world No. 1 made $10 million in endorsements, bringing her total to $14.4 million. Thitikul made $7.1 million on the course and $2 million in endorsements, while Ko took home $3.2 million on the course and $3.5 million in endorsements.

Other names on the list included tennis sensation Coco Gauff (first, $30.4), Olympic gymnast Simone Biles (ninth, ~$11 million) and WNBA star Caitlin Clark (10th, ~$11 million).

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Jeeno Thitikul’s $6 million season in 2024 was more than all but 14 PGA Tour golfers

There were 27 PGA Tour winners in 2024 who made less than Thitikil, including three who won twice.

Jeeno Thitikul was the LPGA’s money winner in 2024 after earning more than $6 million in on-course earnings. A big chunk of that came in the form of the $4 million check she collected for winning the season finale at the CME Group Tour Championship.

She played in 17 events and won twice. She also posted 12 top-10s in 2024.

Scottie Scheffler led the PGA Tour’s money list this year with a whopping $29,228,357. Seven wins, many of them in the signature tour events with huge purses, explains his monster haul.

It is, of course, apples-to-oranges when comparing money on the two tours, especially with the last few years of major increases on the PGA Tour.

Still, it’s kinda fun to dig a little into the numbers.

Where would Jeeno Thitikul rank in PGA Tour money?

Thitikul’s official haul in 2024 was $6,059,309.

That would place her 15th on the PGA Tour’s 2024 money list:

  • $1,827 behind Chris Kirk’s $6,061,136
  • $187,666 ahead of Byeong Hun An’s $5,871,643

Who did Jeeno Thitikul make more than in 2024?

Her haul was better than a slew of notable names on the PGA Tour:

Pos. Golfer Earnings Wins in 2024
16 Tony Finau $5,706,467 0
17 Robert MacIntyre $5,400,384 2
21 Justin Thomas $5,223,561 0
22 Brian Harman $5,201,770 0
25 Billy Horschel $5,037,278 1
29 Adam Scott $4,753,172 0
32 Viktor Hovland $4,616,727 0
41 Jason Day $4,117,518 0
47 Max Homa $3,843,467 0
50 Matt Fitzpatrick $3,705,463 0
60 Justin Rose $3,058,683 0
66 Jordan Spieth $2,732,591 0
96 Rickie Fowler $1,767,709 0
109 Matt Kuchar $1,469,667 0

How many PGA Tour winners in 2024 earned less?

There were 27 PGA Tour winners in 2024 who made less than Thitikil, including three who won twice (although we must put an asterisk next to Nick Dunlap’s name because he couldn’t collect a paycheck for winning The American Express because he was still an amateur).

Pos. Golfer Earnings Wins in 2024
17 Robert MacIntyre $5,400,384 2
18 Akshay Bhatia $5,344,905 1
19 J.T. Poston $5,271,598 1
20 Matthieu Pavon $5,254,412 1
24 Austin Eckroat $5,054,871 2
25 Billy Horschel $5,037,278 1
28 Taylor Pendrith $4,797,854 1
30 Stephan Jaeger $4,732,554 1
31 Maverick McNealy $4,708,358 1
33 Aaron Rai $4,613,515 1
38 Davis Thompson $4,420,940 1
45 Cam Davis $4,039,533 1
53 Nico Echavarria $3,583,634 1
56 Kevin Yu $3,285,759 1
57 Nick Taylor $3,249,358 1
59 Jake Knapp $3,102,773 1
62 Nick Dunlap $2,930,385 2
71 Peter Malnati $2,520,248 1
75 Grayson Murray $2,471,532 1
81 Jhonattan Vegas $2,309,280 1
82 Davis Riley $2,163,701 1
88 Patton Kizzire $1,908,579 1
90 Rafael Campos $1,857,846 1
95 Harry Hall $1,779,095 1
113 Matt McCarty $1,366,340 1
115 Brice Garnett $1,340,330 1
125 Chris Gotterup $1,170,837 1

In 64 career events, Thitikul has earned $9,791,070 in on-course money, a number that ranks her 27th on the LPGA’s all-time list. All 26 in front of her have gone over the $10 million mark.

Brittany Lincicome, right behind her with $9,769,013, just made her 400th – and final event – as she has announced her retirement.

All the Vare Trophy winners, from Patty Berg to Ayaka Furue, in LPGA history

Winners of the Vare Trophy also receive a coveted LPGA Hall of Fame point.

The LPGA, founded in 1950, first recognized the tour’s scoring leader in 1953. Patty Berg was the first winner, and she’d go on to win three of the first four titles. The Vare Trophy, named after the legendary Glenna Collett Vare, is considered by many players to be the true measure of a season given that every stroke counts. It’s the mark of consistent greatness.

Kathy Whitworth, the winningest player in all of golf, won the Vare Trophy a record seven times. Annika Sorenstam, who holds the record for the lowest scoring average of 68.70 in 2002, won it six times.

In 2024, Ayaka Furue becamse the first Japanese player to win the award in its now 72-year history.

To be eligible for the Vare, a player must compete in a minimum of 60 total or 60 percent of official tournament rounds with an individual score, whichever is less, during the season.

She must also compete in a minimum of 70 total or 70 percent of total official tournament rounds, whichever is less, during the season; in seasons that include the Olympic Games, rounds played also count toward this requirement.

Here’s the complete list of Vare winners:

Year Player Scoring average
2024 Ayaka Furue 69.988
2023 Atthaya Thitikul 69.533
2022 Lydia Ko 68.988
2021 Lydia Ko 69.329
2020 Danielle Kang 70.082
2019 Jin Young Ko 69.062
2018 Ariya Jutanugarn 69.415
2017 Lexi Thompson 69.114
2016 In Gee Chun 69.583
2015 Inbee Park 69.415
2014 Stacy Lewis 69.53
2013 Stacy Lewis 69.48
2012 Inbee Park 69.643
2011 Yani Tseng 69.66
2010 Na Yeon Choi 69.873
2009 Lorena Ochoa 70.157
2008 Lorena Ochoa 69.699
2007 Lorena Ochoa 69.685
2006 Lorena Ochoa 69.236
2005 Annika Sorenstam 69.329
2004 Grace Park 69.99
2003 Se Ri Pak 70.03
2002 Annika Sorenstam 68.697
2001 Annika Sorenstam 69.421
2000 Karrie Webb 70.049
1999 Karrie Webb 69.433
1998 Annika Sorenstam 69.987
1997 Karrie Webb 70.00
1996 Annika Sorenstam 70.47
1995 Annika Sorenstam 71.00
1994 Beth Daniel 70.904
1993 Betsy King 70.85
1992 Dottie Pepper 70.80
1991 Pat Bradley 70.66
1990 Beth Daniel 70.54
1989 Beth Daniel 70.38
1988 Colleen Walker 71.26
1987 Betsy King 71.14
1986 Pat Bradley 71.10
1985 Nancy Lopez 70.73
1984 Patty Sheehan 71.40
1983 JoAnne Carner 71.41
1982 JoAnne Carner 71.49
1981 JoAnne Carner 71.75
1980 Amy Alcott 71.51
1979 Nancy Lopez 71.20
1978 Nancy Lopez 71.76
1977 Judy Rankin 72.16
1976 Judy Rankin 72.25
1975 JoAnne Carner 72.40
1974 JoAnne Carner 72.87
1973 Judy Rankin 73.08
1972 Kathy Whitworth 72.38
1971 Kathy Whitworth 72.88
1970 Kathy Whitworth 72.26
1969 Kathy Whitworth 72.38
1968 Carol Mann 72.04
1967 Kathy Whitworth 72.74
1966 Kathy Whitworth 72.60
1965 Kathy Whitworth 72.61
1964 Mickey Wright 72.46
1963 Mickey Wright 72.81
1962 Mickey Wright 73.67
1961 Mickey Wright 73.55
1960 Mickey Wright 73.25
1959 Betsy Rawls 74.03
1958 Beverly Hanson 74.92
1957 Louise Suggs 74.64
1956 Patty Berg 74.57
1955 Patty Berg 74.47
1954 Babe Zaharias 75.48
1953 Patty Berg 75.00

 

Jeeno Thitikul wins 2024 CME Group Tour Championship, pockets top prize of $4 million

Moments after Thitikul finished polishing her newest trophy, she asked, “Is anybody hungry?”

NAPLES, Fla. – Moments after Jeeno Thitikul finished polishing her newest trophy, she turned to assembled media and asked, “Is anybody hungry?”

The woman who’d just clinched the largest check in women’s golf history flashed that million-dollar smile. It wasn’t all that long ago that Thitikul took her job too seriously and put too much pressure on herself. The smile was gone.

At 21 years old, however, she’s figured out that golf isn’t life or death, and it’s paying off in a big way.

On Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship, Thitikul poured in a 25-foot putt for eagle on the 17th hole and knocked a 6-iron to 5 feet on the last to clip Angel Yin by one stroke and claim the $4 million prize. The gutsy performance came after she won $1 million earlier this week for claiming the Aon Risk Reward Challenge.

That’s $5 million in one week.

And yet, the thought that popped into Thitikul’s mind as she stepped onto the 18th tee at Tiburon Golf Club Sunday was that it’s not about the money.

“That word like pop up in my mind on 18 tee box, that we not here for prize money,” said Thitikul. “We’re here for like grow(ing) the game of golf.”

Thitikul played Sunday’s round alongside her best friend on tour, Ruoning Yin and Angel Yin (not related). Both Thitikul and Yin began the 2024 season late due to injury, with Thitikul suffering from a painful left thumb and Yin a broken ankle.

“I think the best thing in my life that happened this year, it’s [being] injured,” said Thitikul. “And also the worst thing. But it taught me a lot this year.”

CME Group Tour ChampionshipLeaderboard | Photos

Thitikul’s eagle-birdie finish gave her a 7-under 65 on Sunday for a 22-under total. Angel Yin closed with a 66 to finish one back, good for a $1 million payday.

“Hopefully I don’t break any body parts starting the offseason,” Yin joked after the round, “and maybe we’ll get some positive for next season.”

Thitikul, now a four-time winner on the LPGA, laughs each time she tells reporters not to tell her parents that she’s spending all the money. The Thai sensation started Black Friday shopping after she earned the $1 million bonus and had plans to visit Disney World with friends, including Ruoning Yin, after she left Naples. Thitikul and Yin teamed up to win the Dow Championship earlier this year.

Not surprisingly, Thitikul set a new single-season earnings record with $6,059,309, topping the record held by Lorena Ochoa in 2007 of $4,364,994. A total of 34 players crossed the $1 million mark in earnings this season.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda wrapped up her sensational season with a share of fifth, closing with a bogey-free 66. She became the first American to win seven LPGA titles in one season since Beth Daniel in 1990. In any other year, her $4,391,930 would’ve topped the money list.

“Never in a million years would I have thought last year, 365 days ago, I would be here with seven wins in one season and another major championship,” said Korda.

“But proud of the way I played this year. Proud of the way I bounced back after the middle of the year to win in Tampa. And, yeah, just motivated and eager to get next year going again.”

CME Group Tour Championship 2024
Jeeno Thitikul poses with the trophy after winning the CME Group Tour Championship 2024 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Lydia Ko didn’t even qualify for the CME last year and came in this year as one of the hottest players on tour. The most recent member of LPGA Hall of Fame closed out her fairy-tale season with a 9-under 63, moving up to solo third at 17 under. Ko earned $550,000 for her efforts.

“It was kind of the best way I could hope to end my official season,” said Ko, who like many players in the field this week will be back at Tiburon next month for the Grant Thornton Invitational, where she’ll defend with partner Jason Day. Thitikul will be paired with three-time PGA Tour winner Tom Kim.

“Especially with this tournament being a very special place for me, I really wanted to finish on a high. To be able to do that, it’s definitely a great way it wrap it up.”

Three players bid farewell to full-time competition on Sunday: Lexi Thompson, Ally Ewing and Marina Alex. While Thompson and Ewing made their announcements earlier in the season, only Alex’s close circle friends and family knew this would be final season.

Alex, a two-time winner on tour, closed with a 66 to finish tied for 12th while Ewing tied for 16th. A total of 12 players have decided to step away from full-time competition after this season.

Jeeno Thitikul has already claimed a $1 million check this week at the CME – now she could add another $4 million

Jeeno Thitikul has a chance to leave Naples, Florida, this week with $5 million.

NAPLES, Fla. – Jeeno Thitikul has a chance to leave Naples, Florida, this week with $5 million. She’s already wrapped up $1 million as the Aon Risk Reward Challenge winner and currently co-leads the CME Group Tour Championship after a dazzling 9-under 63.

Thitikul and overnight leader Angel Yin top the board at 15 under at Tiburon Golf Club, with an historic $4 million winner’s check on the line.

When asked for her thoughts on the potential of winning $5 million in one week, Thitikul laughed and said that $1 million is good enough for her before noting her love of spending money. Just yesterday she did some early Black Friday shopping.

“It’s a lot of thing I buy,” she said, laughing. “Just silly things, important things. I don’t know. Actually, that’s nice that I’m here because my parents won’t know what I’m spending.

“But don’t tell my parents that.”

2024 Aon Risk Reward Challenge Presentation
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand speaks with the Golf Central cast during a interview on Golf Channel after winning the 2024 Aon Risk Reward Challenge ahead of the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Thitikul spent Saturday afternoon alongside close friend Ruoning Yin, who shot 66 and holds solo third at 12 under. Yin said they mostly talk about food inside the ropes, noting that Thitikul sometimes comes over for lunch after practice when the Dallas residents are both in town.

“She’s crushing it,” said Yin of her friend.

CME Group Tour ChampionshipLeaderboard | Photos

The pair teamed up to win the Dow Championship earlier this year, and then Yin clipped Thitikul by a stroke at the Maybank Championship. Thitikul, who suffered a thumb injury earlier this year, hasn’t finished outside the top eight in her last six starts.

“Whatever is going to happen tomorrow,” said Thitikul, “I take it as a learning experience. It’s not about life or death.”

Yin has given credit all week to caddie Michelle Simpson for her success on the greens. The pair started working together for the first time on Monday.

“I’ve always had a really tough time reading greens here,” said Yin, “even though I’ve been living in Florida since 2018.

“It’s just really rough for me because I grew up in California and it’s Poa and Bent and all that stuff. So these greens are always rough, and with her help I’ve been able to get a few lines in.”

Yin’s season also got off to a slow start after she broke her left ankle in Austria during the offseason. The 26-year-old American won the 2023 Aon Risk Reward Challenge and said the seven-figure check gave her freedom.

Charley Hull of England plays her shot from the seventh tee during the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship 2024 at Tiburon Golf Club on November 23, 2024 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Hull, who recently won on the Ladies European Tour in Saudi Arabia, loves being a chaser. She finished second last week to Nelly Korda at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican and hasn’t finished outside the top 20 on tour since July.

Hull won her first LPGA title at the 2016 CME and claimed a $500,000 paycheck. When asked if the $4 million would be on her mind Sunday, she said not one bit.

“I don’t play golf for the money; I play golf for the trophies,” said Hull. “I just want to go out there and win no matter what the paycheck is. Obviously grateful for it being $4 million.”

Third time’s the charm for Jenno Thitikul, who wins $1 million bonus from Aon Risk Reward Challenge

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Jeeno Thitikul did exactly that. After coming in second the past two years, the 21-year-old LPGA star won the 2024 Aon Risk Reward Challenge and the $1 million prize that comes with it.

The Aon Risk Reward Challenge is a season-long competition that highlights golf’s best strategic decision-makers. To qualify, players must play a minimum of 40 rounds throughout the season.

“It feels really amazing to get this done and also I really feel amazing for high competition level with Aon, as well,” Thitikul said. “It’s really challenging thought, each hole that we had at every tournament.”

This year, Thitikul broke through because of her stellar decision-making with an impressive +0.39 strokes gained on every Challenge hole played and a go-for-green success rate of 35 percent, a figure that places her second overall among the 147 Challenge participants this season.

2024 Aon Risk Reward Challenge Presentation
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand

speaks with the Golf Central cast during a interview on Golf Channell after winning the 2024 Aonm Risk Reward Challenge ahead of the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

“That’s all my plan, that I’m trying to — especially reachable par-5s, par-4s that Aon have been setting, that’s all the plan for me and my coach, trying to play all the par-5s, we’re trying to make birdies,” Thitikul said, “if we can all day long, which really suits the Aon setup, rules kind of thing like that, which is really helping me with all the holes or all the rounds that I have to take advantage of it.”

Thitikul won the Vare Trophy in 2023 on the heels of winning LPGA Rookie of the Year honors in 2022.

She won the Dow Championship with teammate Ruoning Yin and had 11 top-10 finishes, including a streak of six straight.

This former No. 1 can clinch the LPGA scoring title for a second consecutive year – if she can make one more cut

Winners of the Vare Trophy title receive a coveted LPGA Hall of Fame point.

The name on the Vare Trophy this year might look different than last year, but it’s the same person. Atthaya Thitikul, who earlier this year decided to officially go by her nickname “Jeeno” on LPGA leaderboards, once again leads the race for lowest scoring average on the LPGA.

Thitikul won the award last season without winning on tour. While she technically has won this year at the Dow Championship, scoring at the team event does not count toward this particular race. (Thitikul partnered with good friend Ruoning Yin.)

With four events left in the season, Thitikul paces the tour with a 69.537 average. She won last year’s race with a 69.53 average.

In order for the 21-year-old Thai player to win this year, however, she’ll need to make the cut in her next start at The Annika and play all four rounds at the CME Group Tour Championship to meet the minimum requirement of 70 rounds. Thitikul, who missed the first quarter of the season with a thumb injury, has competed in 62 total rounds this season.

2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand hits a tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the 2024 Buick LPGA Shanghai at Qizhong Garden Golf Club. (Zhe Ji/Getty Images)

Nelly Korda ranks second on the scoring list with a 69.918 average but as she’s out with a minor neck injury, won’t compete again until The Annika next month. She’ll fail to meet the minimum requirement of rounds played.

Furue would need an average strokes per round of 65.944 in her remaining starts to pass Thitikul. Haeran Ryu would need an average strokes per round of 65.534.

Should Thitikul hold on to win the Vare, she’d become the 12th player to win the award two years in a row, joining JoAnne Carner, Beth Daniel, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, Nancy Lopez, Lorena Ochoa, Judy Rankin, Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Wright.

Winners of the Vare Trophy also receive a coveted LPGA Hall of Fame point.

While Jeeno Thitikul leads the 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship, Lydia Ko lurks just two back

Sunday is going to be fun.

Jeeno Thitikul might have a two-shot lead after 54 holes of the LPGA’s 2024 Kroger Queen City Championship, but her closest chaser is the newest member of the league’s Hall of Fame.

Lydia Ko, who won the AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews in her last start, shot a third-round 3-under 69 around TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio, on Saturday and is alone in second, two back of Thitikul’s lead.

The Kiwi started her day with a bogey but made the turn with an even-par 36 thanks to a birdie on No. 8. After making the turn, Ko added birdies on Nos. 10, 14 and 18 to guarantee her spot in Sunday’s final group.

Kroger Queen City: Photos

Thitikul was one better than Ko on Day 3, posting a 4-under 68 that consisted of three birdies on each side plus back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17. Since missing the cut at the Evian Championship, Thitikul has tied for 17th at the Women’s Open and finished T-4 at the FM Championship in Boston.

Yan Liu is alone in third at 13 under, three back, while Albane Valenzuela and Haeran Ryu are tied for fourth at 12 under, four back.

Final-round coverage will be on Golf Channel from 1-4 p.m. ET.

Find out why this former No. 1 changed her name midway through LPGA season

It’s not often that LPGA players make a name change midseason, especially a first name.

It’s not often that LPGA players make a name change midseason, especially a first name. But former World No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul has decided to go by her nickname “Jeeno” going forward.

The 21-year-old, who took a share of the early lead at the 2024 FM Championship after an opening 3-under 69, said she thought “Jeeno” would be easier for people to remember.

“I think it’s unique and easier than Atthaya,” said Thitikul, a three-time winner on the LPGA.

Thitikul said her mother originally gave her the nickname “Jeen,” which roughly translates to “Chinese people” in Thai. Everyone in Thailand has a nickname, she explained, because names are traditionally long.

“Jeen is, like, my mom give it to me because she is 100 percent Thai,” Thitikul once explained, “but my dad is Chinese for a little bit. She’s, like, oh, I give it for, like, your father is going to like it.”

It was her coach who added the “o.”