It is tough to reach number one in the world, but even tougher to stay there.
Jeeno Thitikul (Callaway Chrome Tour X) recently displaced Nelly Korda (TaylorMade TP5) in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Thitikul has 10,095 points, while Korda has 9,760. The dropoff is significant from there, with Lydia Ko (Titleist Pro V1x) third with 6,550 and Minjee Lee (Callaway Chrome Tour X) fourth with 6,190.
Thitikul has played in 16 tournaments, made the cut in 15, won once, the Mizuho Americas Open), and has eight top-10s. She won the Tour Championship last year.
Nelly Korda (TaylorMade TP5), who won seven tournament last year and had the world number one distinction for 71 weeks before losing it last month to Thitikul. Both players addressed the topic in a media conference I attended three weeks ago prior to the start of the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada, the first tournament since Thitikul became world number one.
“It definitely means a lot to us, not just me but also my team,” she said. “My caddie has been a dream to me. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to reach number one in the world. I can’t describe how happy and how proud I am of myself. When I was younger, I didn’t think I’d reach number one in the world. Just to be able to win a tournament is really good enough for me. Ranking number one in the world is more than I can describe.
“I don’t think I’m going to stay number one forever (up to) my retirement. Me and Nelly are trying to be the best in our jobs. That’s pretty much what we focus on. We’re playing to win each tournament and improving ourselves. That’s pretty much my perspective on that.”
She said it is “so hard” to win on the LPGA Tour, especially this year, which has not seen a repeat winner. There have been seven rookies who have won this year, tying a record set in 1980.
“The level of competition is higher and higher, so it’s not easy,” she said.
Explaining her consistency this year, she said, “I love grinding on my weeks off. I think every week after (a good result) I feel so fresh.”
Korda has played in 16 tournaments this year and has made the cut in all of them and been runnerup twice, in the U.S. Women’s Open and Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She battled a neck injury a few months ago. She had a neck injury last year.
“Getting that number one ranking, at the end of the day no matter if you say you don’t focus on that it’s an amazing accomplishment, not just once but I’ve held that ranking a couple of times,” she said. “It’s not just me. I am the one hitting the golf ball, but I have a whole team behind me that I have to thank for that accomplishment.”
She said no longer being number one is just part of sports.
“It’s just constantly moving around,” she said. “It changes like the wind, in a sense and you have to stick to your process. If you play well, that’s great. All you can control is the work you’re putting into it.
“I would say I never thought I want to get back to world number one, I just want to play well. I want to be in contention (in every final round). I’ve been putting in a lot of work in every part of my game. I saw a stat where I’m always in the top and some of my stats are even better than last year. It’s just crazy, that’s golf. Last year at this time I had six wins under my belt, and my stats are better this year and I have zero wins under my belt. Everything hasn’t clicked in a sense.
“For you to win out here or to win in general, it’s so hard. The bounces have to go your way and unfortunately it hasn’t but never say never. We still have a bunch of events left in the season. It doesn’t matter how you start it's how you finish. I think the most important thing is sticking to your process and figuring out your groove and you can’t get lazy with any part of your game. That’s also motivating, too.”
She said addressed the fact that there have been no repeat winners this year.
“The golf has just gotten so much better, everyone is getting so good,” she said. “If you just look at the teams that girls have around themselves, they are investing so much into their game, everything so they can compete week in, week out, to their best ability. You can just see that transitioning from my rookie year (in 2017). Just a lot of people and dedication that every player is putting into their game. At the end of the day you have to stay on top of it, you have to continually push yourself, try to raise the bar because everyone around you is getting better. I would say this year when it comes to the strength of all the Japanese players, they are playing unbelievable golf. I would say it’s the most I’ve seen come over in a really long time.”
