Jeeno Thitikul is among those featured in Time100 Next, and the author of her story has a familiar name – LPGA Hall of Famer Lydia Ko. The Time100 Next list was first launched six years ago and is designed to highlight the world’s most influential rising stars.
Thitikul, 22, is the current No. 1 player in the world and a five-time winner on the LPGA. Last year, she won the largest paycheck in the history of women’s golf, earning $4 million at the CME Group Tour Championship. Thitikul’s career highlights include the 2023 Vare Trophy for the tour’s lowest scoring average and the 2022 LPGA Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year. Prior to joining the LPGA, she was the 2021 LET Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
Formerly known as Atthaya Thitikul, Jeeno won her first pro tournament at age 14.
New Zealand’s Ko was included in Time’s Top 100 Most Influential People on her 17th birthday back in 2014 and wrote the following about her friend for Time:
“Most professional golfers are really good at one thing. For some, it’s their long game or iron shot, for others, it’s putting or chipping. But for Jeeno Thitikul, it’s everything. She’s really good at all parts of the game, all throughout the bag. She’s so consistent that even on her off days, she’s not that far off at all. She has a strong mental game too, and always plays with a very calm, cool, and collected demeanor. Since we’ve both been on tour with the LPGA, I’ve gotten to know Jeeno better, and I see how hard she works. It feels like only a matter of time until she wins a major title. As a teen phenom turned top-ranked golfer, Jeeno is incredibly impressive all around. She motivates me to be a better player, and I feel lucky to be able to play alongside her.”
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