“Jeeno Thitikul’s Rise Sparks Debate: Has Nelly Korda Lost Her Edge After 17 Months at the Top—or Is the LPGA Witnessing a New Power Shift?”
“Jeeno Thitikul’s Rise Sparks Debate: Has Nelly Korda Lost Her Edge After 17 Months at the Top—or Is the LPGA Witnessing a New Power Shift?”
After a lengthy run as World No.1, Nelly Korda is set to be replaced at the top of the rankings by 22-year-old Jeeno Thitikul.
The Thai player, who was previously World No.1 back in 2022, becoming the second-youngest golfer to reach this milestone in the process, will overtake Korda after another strong showing at the AIG Women’s Open.
Carding a one-over championship total, Thitikul finished two shots clear of two-time Major winner, Korda, who had to finish ahead of Thitikul at Royal Porthcawl to remain at the top of the rankings.
Producing rounds of 70, 72, 74 and 75 to finish T36, it means that Korda’s reign as the World No.1 player comes to an end after 72 consecutive weeks, the fifth longest streak in the history of the women’s game.
Korda first topped the rankings in June 2021, holding that position for 17 weeks. She then regained the World No.1 spot in November of that year, lasting 12 weeks before she was overtaken in January 2022.
Two and four week stretches at the top of the rankings came in November 2022 and April 2023, before a win at the LPGA Drive On Championship in March 2024 led to her 72 week run, ending at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open in August. Back on the 6th June, she celebrated 100 weeks as World No.1.
Korda celebrates her LPGA Drive On Championship win in 2024
Now though, Thitikul will find herself top of the rankings, with the Thai player previously holding the World No.1 spot for just two weeks.
