Thitikul’s Coronation Moment: Why Saturday’s Performance Signals Something Bigger for Women’s Golf

There’s a particular kind of tension that builds when you’re watching a generational talent play in front of their home crowd. I felt it covering Tom Lehman’s run at the U.S. Open in 1996—that electric mix of pressure and possibility. On Saturday at the Siam Country Club Old Course, I watched Jeeno Thitikul navigate something similar, and what I observed goes well beyond a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday.

The headline reads: World No. 1 closes with three consecutive birdies, takes command of LPGA Thailand with a 20-under 196. Clean. Efficient. But here’s what the box score doesn’t tell you—Thitikul just executed a masterclass in tournament golf under the exact conditions where most young players fold like a bad hand at the poker table.

The Momentum Shift We’ve Seen Before

Let me be direct: trailing by three strokes going into Saturday in a home event is a position that typically ends one of two ways. You either capitalize on that hunger, or you let it eat you alive. In my 35 years around this game, I’ve seen far more of the latter.

What strikes me about Thitikul’s approach wasn’t the destination—a two-stroke lead—but the path she took to get there. She didn’t play perfect golf. She played aggressive, intelligent golf. When second-round leader Somi Lee stumbled with three bogeys in four holes on the front nine, Thitikul pounced. But notice: she didn’t just coast. On the opening par-5, both players had eagle putts. Lee three-putted for par. Thitikul birdied. That’s the difference between a player hoping for good things and a player creating them.

“I try to keep everything on track. The driver has been really good the past few days and that’s given me confidence. My irons have been better than I expected, and I’ve been rolling the putts well these past three days.”

Notice what Thitikul emphasized: driver confidence, iron play exceeding expectations, and touch on the greens. That’s not luck. That’s a player who has clearly worked through something technical and is now reaping the rewards. Having caddied in the ’90s, I can tell you—when a player starts talking about their fundamentals clicking into place simultaneously, that’s when you should be paying attention.

The Kim Factor and Sunday’s Narrative

Hyo Joo Kim shot 65 and sits just two strokes back. On paper, that’s a legitimate threat. In reality, Kim’s position might be even more dangerous than it appears, precisely because she knows it.

“I’m in a position where I have to chase, but that allows me to be more aggressive. I made a few mistakes today, so tomorrow I just want to attack and hopefully finish first.”

This comment tells me Kim understands the psychology of Sunday at a major-stage event. The chaser’s advantage is real—Thitikul carries the target on her back now. But Kim also made mistakes on Friday, which means she wasn’t flawless. That matters. In my experience, final-round comebacks require near-perfect play, and Kim’s acknowledgment of her own errors suggests she knows the margin for error is razor-thin.

Still, don’t sleep on the threat from the three-way tie for third—Allisen Corpuz, Somi Lee, and Chizzy Iwai all lurking three strokes back. Corpuz has quietly developed into a player who thrives in these compressed tournaments. Lee will be motivated to bounce back from today’s struggles. And Iwai, at just three back after a 68, has the kind of even temperament that plays well under Sunday pressure.

The Bigger Picture: What This Tournament Means

Here’s what casual fans might miss: LPGA Thailand isn’t just another tournament. It’s the opening salvo of the Asian swing—three events in consecutive weeks across Thailand, Singapore, and China. These tournaments matter disproportionately for season momentum, world ranking points, and psychological edge heading into spring.

Thitikul winning at home, as a seven-time LPGA Tour winner at just 23 years old, would send a specific message to the rest of the field: this player is not just talented, she’s building something sustainable. She’s not a one-week wonder riding a hot putter. She’s a world No. 1 who can execute under maximum pressure in her own backyard.

Conversely, if Kim or one of the pursuers steals Sunday, it resets the narrative considerably. The conversation becomes about Thitikul’s vulnerability rather than her dominance. In tournament golf, perception is half the battle.

One More Thing Worth Noting

Lydia Ko shot 69 and sits fourth, four strokes back. Ko’s presence in contention at any tournament is noteworthy—she’s proven over two decades that she performs when it matters. And Angel Yin, last year’s champion, is limping along at 3-under, which tells me the course has figured her out slightly, or she’s dealing with something mechanically that isn’t clicking yet.

Defending champions rarely repeat in the LPGA’s Asia swing events. The gauntlet of travel, jet lag, and three tournaments in quick succession exhausts even the mentally toughest players. The fact that Yin is struggling suggests the field is wide-open after Sunday’s winner is crowned.

What happens today will tell us whether Thitikul’s coronation as women’s golf’s next dominant force is imminent, or whether there’s still some adversity left to navigate. Either way, it’s going to be compelling television.