The LPGA season-ending CME Group Tour Championship was a huge victory for Jeeno Thitikul (Callaway Chrome Tour X), who certified her status as the top-ranked woman player in the world and Player of the Year.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only did she win $4 million from the $11 million purse, she became the first player on the Tour this season to record three victories.
While not as impressive as the seven won by Nelly Korda (TaylorMade TP5x) last year, it was nonetheless important for the 22-year-old star from Thailand. In 2024, she won the CME Group Tour Championship and continued the momentum into 2025. Her latest win came with a score of 26-under par, obliterating her score of 22-under par last year.
Back in August, she moved ahead of Korda as the top-ranked woman golfer in the world.
This year the LPGA had a record-tying 26 different winners from 25 tournaments, the first time since 2022. Several of the winners collectively came from Sweden and Japan, which have emerged as powerhouses along with the U.S., Korea, Australia and Thailand.
As I’ve said before, it’s great for the game to have parity. It will be interesting to see what happens next season, specifically if Thitikul goes on a run.
NELLY REBOUNDS: While Korda did not win a tournament this season, in which she battled neck injuries, she finished strongly with a third-place finish in the CME Group Tour Championship.
In an interview heading into the ANNIKA, her first start in a month and the final prep before the CME, she said she had been doing rehab while away. She also said if you ask any pro athlete in a season, they will admit they are never truly pain free.
LEXI’S COMEBACK YEAR: Last year veteran Lexi Thompson (Maxfli Tour X) said she would be cutting back significantly on her touring schedule because of the mental grind. She played in 13 tournaments in 2025, and while her best finish was a T4 she nonetheless made the cut in nine.
Last year she played in 17 tournaments and missed six cuts, though she did post a T3 and a T2.
She finished tied for 19th in the CME.
BIG NEWS FOR LPGA: The LPGA is riding a bonanza with news last week that all of its tournaments will be broadcast live from start to finish through a partnership with FM, the Golf Channel and Trackman. Moreover, camera coverage will increase by 50%.
FM, a leading commercial property insurer, is going all out on this.
“We are proud to take our partnership with the LPGA to an even higher level by supporting the transformation of the LPGA Tour’s broadcast, athlete and fan experience for the 2026 season and beyond,” said Malcolm Roberts, Chairman and CEO of FM, in a media release. “This collaboration with the LPGA and investment in state-of-the-art technology and equipment is right in line with FM’s belief in innovation and progress. We believe in our trusted partners at the LPGA. We are excited to significantly expand our support for women’s golf, driving progress further than ever before.”
What it also signifies is the latest example of the rise of professional women’s sports. The WNBA (basketball), NWSL (soccer), PWHL (hockey) are getting boosts from commercial sponsors and TV networks capitalizing on content beyond just male-dominated sports.
