Jeeno Thitikul's Major Pursuit: The Unanswered Question at the Chevron
Alright, let’s talk about Jeeno Thitikul. The number one player in the world. Yeah, you heard me. She’s got the trophies, she’s got the accolades, she’s even got that Player of the Year hardware from last year. She’s done it all, pretty much. Except for the one thing that really, really matters. The big one. The major. And this week, at the Chevron Championship, that question mark over her head just gets a whole lot bigger. It’s the challenge of her career, plain and simple. The one she hasn’t figured out yet.
Look, the woman wins. A lot. Twenty-one professional wins. Eight on the LPGA. Five on the Ladies European Tour. She’s bagged back-to-back CME Group Tour Championships, nabbed a couple of Vare Trophies. Last year? Player of the Year. She was one of only two to pull off multiple wins. Impressive, right? Hell, it’s more than impressive. It’s dominant. But when you’re at the top, everyone’s looking for that one thing. That defining moment. And for Thitikul, that’s still the major championship trophy. It’s the big white elephant in the room, and everyone’s staring at it.
The Major Mountain: A Climb She Hasn't Conquered
She’s had chances, too. Plenty of them. Nine top-10s in 27 majors as a pro. That’s not shabby. But it’s not a win, is it? She even held the 36-hole lead at the 2024 Chevron. Thought she had it. Then… nope. Faded on the weekend. Nelly Korda swooped in and took it. Remember that? Then there was the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA. Minjee Lee just blew past her. And at the Evian? Grace Kim tracked her down and beat her in a dramatic finish. It’s like her major dreams are right there, in her hands, but then they just… slip away. Like trying to grab smoke. Frustrating as hell, I bet.
Last year, she played it cool. At the Chevron and the KPMG, she brushed off the pressure of winning a major. Said she just wanted to make the cut. Laughing about it. Said it would be great to win, sure, everyone dreams of it. But she was happy with what she had. If it happened, great. If not, no regrets. That’s a hell of an attitude. Comes from a humble spot, growing up in Thailand, no golf course nearby. Learned from her grandfather. Pursued golf to help her family. And she’s done that. So, yeah, anything else is a bonus. That’s the perspective you get when you’re young, with the whole future ahead of you, and you’ve already crushed it beyond your wildest dreams.
She even called it a “challenging thing,” trying to win a major. Not stressful, just a challenge. She figured she was young, opportunities would come. She’d ask herself if she’d regret not winning a major by retirement. Her answer? No. She’d given it 100 percent. Let it be natural. If it happened, it happened. If not, there were other things to do. More to life than golf.
The Weight of Expectations Starts to Shift
But here’s the thing. Time. Scars. They change you. Nobody’s immune to the pressure of majors. And as the years tick by and that goal stays out of reach, things shift. You can’t just pretend it’s not there forever. After getting beat by Lee and Kim last summer, Thitikul heads into this year’s Chevron with a different understanding. The stakes are higher now. The longer this major-less streak goes on, the heavier it gets. She’s still approaching it the same, she says. But the weight… it increases when you keep coming up short. Her other accomplishments? Unimpeachable. But majors are different. No matter what you tell yourself.
“Every time I lost in a major, for sure, people remind every week,” she admitted, laughing, on Tuesday. It’s the challenge of her career, she knows. She knows what she’s accomplished at her age. It’s a lot. But majors… they’re the first time that’s always the hardest, she feels. And if she can prove to herself she can do it? Well, that’s what golf is all about, isn’t it?
She’s shown she can bounce back, though. She’s tough. Last season, she four-putted the 72nd hole and lost the Kroger Championship. Went home, cried her eyes out. Took a picture of her swollen face. A reminder of the highs and lows of this crazy life she chose. You get the good, you get the bad. A few weeks later, she buried that loss with a historic comeback in Shanghai. That win showed a different side. The tears of a world-beater with a fire to be great. Someone who wants to win, and make the most of a rare gift.
“I just kept telling myself whatever happens in dramatic events… I need to earn it by myself,” she said after that Shanghai win. “The winner is just only one player… and then when it’s my time, I will want to be in that moment again and did it by myself again. I’ve got nothing to be scared of anymore.”
This Week at the Chevron: The Moment of Truth?
So, this week, Jeeno Thitikul hopes to find herself in that moment again. She’ll tell you that putting yourself in contention – which she does, constantly – means it’s only a matter of time. It’s about the golf gods finally ruling in your favor. Proving to yourself you’re made for those moments you always dreamed about. This Chevron Championship feels like a big one. The one where the narrative could finally change. She’s got the game. She’s got the mental fortitude, proven by her comebacks. Now, it’s about translating that into major championship success.
The pressure is immense, no doubt. It’s a different beast when it’s a major. The history, the prestige, the sheer difficulty of the courses. It tests every part of your game and your mind. But Thitikul has shown resilience. She’s learned from her losses. She’s used heartbreak as fuel. That’s the sign of a true champion in the making. Whether she can finally break through this week remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on her, waiting to see if she can answer that one lingering question and add a major to her already stellar resume. It’s the ultimate test, and she’s ready to face it head-on. You can find more about the current LPGA season and upcoming events on the official LPGA Tour website.
Can she do it? Can she finally conquer the major mountain? We’re about to find out. It’s going to be a hell of a show.