Thailand’s Thitikul is embraced by last years winner and fellow Thai, Patty Tavatanakit
Jeeno Thitikul raced to a runaway victory in Riyadh at the PIF Saudi Ladies International securing her 17th professional win with a final round of 69 to finish 16-under par.
The prodigious Thai, who celebrates her 22nd birthday on Thursday (February 20), follows her compatriot Patty Tavatanakit who picked up the winner’s cheque of US$675,000 as part of the US$5 million Saudi’s flagship women’s golf tournament in 2024.
The event marked Thitikul’s first start of the season. Afterwards she said: “It’s the best present I’ve ever received in my life!” Adding: “To be honest, I didn’t think I’d be able to win my first event of the year at all because after a long off-season without playing tournaments, you need to adjust a little bit on the course. But winning here is a huge advantage. We can take this form and carry on the good things that happened here. More than anything, I think my team will be proud because we’ve worked really hard in the offseason, always trying to get better. Having a win here means we’re moving in the right direction.”
Thitikul started the final day at Riyadh Golf Club with a three-shot lead, which she quickly extended notching up four birdies in her first 10 holes, giving her a five-shot advantage with eight to play.
The World No. 4 would give just one shot back to the field over these holes, which proved too good for closest competitors Somi Lee, whose two-under-par round of 70 would hand her solo second, and England’s Annabell Fuller who made a remarkable recovery after a three-over front-nine to finish her round one over par and leave her alone in third place.
In securing third place, Fuller has made it back-to-back top 10s after a sixth placed finish on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
After her final round, the 22-year-old Fuller, who will pocket US$270,000 from the PIF Saudi Ladies International from finishing solo third, said: “I was saying to my parents last week, this kind of tournament is life-changing. Golf isn’t cheap, and neither is traveling, so having the opportunity to earn at this level is huge. It really helps make a career in the game more sustainable.
Annabell Fuller, finishes in third place to seal her best performance
“It was awesome to play next to her [Jeeno Thitikul] and watch her game, she’s so good. Even when she made a mistake, seeing how she recovered was incredible. Her short game is just next level, and she always managed to get out of tough spots so well. For me, it’s a huge confidence boost to have two strong weeks back-to-back.”
Boasting an historic US$5 million prize fund, PIF Saudi Ladies International matches the men’s equivalent, the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisors (played on the Asian Tour,) and represents the highest non-Major purse on the LET, illustrating Golf Saudi and PIF’s aligned commitment to enabling and advancing women in the game.
Following her victory, Thitikul addressed the significance of this.
She said: “I think Golf Saudi and PIF have done so much to elevate women’s golf and grow the game. I really appreciate how they see the potential in women’s golf and continue investing in it. The women’s game really needs this kind of support to keep growing, especially for the next generation. Hopefully, more fans will watch, whether on TV or coming out here in person. Saudi has done a really good job organising a big event and bringing in top players to compete, which is great for women’s golf.”
A new two-day team format was introduced to the tournament this year to heighten the drama and increase prize-winning potential. Korea’s Somi Lee captained her team to a two-shot victory to lift the trophy.
Team Lee takes the team win (from left to right): Amy Taylor, Nastasia Naduad, Somi Lee, Minsun Kim
Team Lee made history by becoming the first team champions of the PIF Saudi Ladies International following stunning closing birdies from captain Somi Lee and fellow Korean Minsun Lee on the final hole.
While the team – completed by France’s Nastasia Nadaud and Amy Taylor from England – will each take US$35,000, Somi Lee said she had found something more valuable this week.
The 26-year-old said: “I’m so happy! I’ve met great friends and great players. Golf is usually an individual sport, but being able to play as a team made me feel more relaxed and comfortable. This win will definitely give me a boost to start the year.”
The team format was introduced to the tournament this year to heighten the drama and increase the opportunities for competitors to capture some of the historic US$5 million prize fund on offer at Saudi’s flagship women’s golf event.
