Thailand’s Atthaya “Jeeno” Thitikul has once again reached the pinnacle of women’s golf, reclaiming the No. 1 position in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Her latest rise to the top, officially confirmed on August 4, 2025, ends American Nelly Korda’s dominant 497-day reign at the summit. At just 22 years old, Jeeno has now achieved this feat for the second time in her career, her first stint coming in October 2022 when she held the top spot for two weeks. She remains only the second Thai golfer in history to accomplish this, following Ariya Jutanugarn’s breakthrough in 2017.

 

Reacting to her achievement, Jeeno expressed deep gratitude, saying that becoming the world’s top-ranked player again is not just a personal triumph, but a reflection of the effort and support of everyone around her. She specifically acknowledged her family, her team, her friends, and the overwhelming encouragement from fans in Thailand and around the world. Her statement reinforced the humility and grace with which she continues to handle her growing fame and success.

 

Jeeno’s return to No. 1 comes as no surprise to those who have closely followed her performance this season. She leads the LPGA Tour with eight top-10 finishes in 2025. Among them, a standout victory at the Mizuho Americas Open in May served as a key turning point in her campaign. Her consistency carried over into the majors, where she finished tied-fourth at the Women’s PGA Championship in June and lost in a playoff to Grace Kim at the Evian Championship in July. Although she finished tied for 30th at the Women’s British Open on August 3, the modest result was enough to surpass Korda, who finished tied for 36th at the same event.

 

 

Jeeno Thitikul celebrates her victory at the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open, a turning point in her climb back to World No. 1.

 

Nelly Korda, who turned 27 earlier this year, had held the No. 1 position since March 25, 2024. Her most recent reign lasted 71 consecutive weeks, bringing her career total at the top to an impressive 108 weeks. That number places her among the legends of the game, with only five players in LPGA history having spent more weeks at No. 1 since the ranking system was introduced in 2006. Korda was spectacular in 2024, winning seven titles, but 2025 has not gone according to plan. She has yet to register a victory this season, and her recent dip in form, including a series of underwhelming finishes, ultimately opened the door for Jeeno to make her move.

 

 

Nelly Korda's 71-week reign at No. 1 came to an end after the event.

 

This latest development adds to a fascinating ongoing battle for supremacy in women’s golf. In the past year alone, the No. 1 ranking has changed hands between Korda, Lilia Vu, and Ruoning Yin, highlighting the depth of talent and the volatility at the top of the leaderboard. Jeeno’s resurgence is a powerful reminder that she is not only consistent but capable of handling pressure and staying in contention even when wins are hard to come by.

 

Since the inception of the Rolex Rankings in 2006, only 48 players have ever achieved the No. 1 status, and Jeeno now becomes the 36th unique name to hold that distinction. Her story is remarkable by any standard. She turned professional at just 15 and quickly began drawing attention on the Ladies European Tour, where she was named Rookie of the Year in 2021. Her victory at the Mizuho Americas Open earlier this season added to a resume that also includes the prestigious CME Group Tour Championship title in 2024.

 

Looking ahead, all eyes will now be on how long Jeeno can hold the No. 1 position in what has become one of the most competitive eras in LPGA history. Players like Jin Young Ko, Lilia Vu, and Lydia Ko are all in striking distance, and a single event can quickly reshape the rankings. But for now, Jeeno Thitikul stands alone at the top, a symbol of hard work, grace under pressure, and the growing power of Asian golf on the global stage.

 

 

World No.1 Jeeno Thitikul tees off during the second round of the  LPGA Thailand 2025 tournament at Siam Country Club in Pattaya. (Credit- Bangkokpost.com)

 

Thailand can take immense pride in Jeeno’s achievement, as it once again marks the country’s rising stature in the world of golf. Her return to No. 1 not only inspires young athletes back home but also sends a strong message to the global golf community that this new generation of players is rewriting the rules, one tournament at a time.