Jeeno says time away from golf helped fuel four-win season

Behind Jeeno Thitikul’s four LPGA Tour victories this season is a lesson that extends beyond swing mechanics and relentless practice: knowing when to stop.

The Thai golfer, currently No.2 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, says learning to balance her professional career with life away from the course has helped her return to competition mentally refreshed and better able to focus on the shot in front of her.

That approach paid off at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei, where Jeeno claimed her fourth LPGA Tour title of 2026 and the 11th of her career.

A month away from competition

Before returning for the tournament in Hawaii, Jeeno had taken about four weeks away from competition.

She spent the first two weeks without touching a golf club before resuming practice during the final two weeks. Part of the break included a trip to Austria, giving her time away from the routines and pressures of professional golf.

For Jeeno, the pause was about finding a healthier work-life balance.

She acknowledged that athletes can sometimes feel guilty about stopping because there is always a sense that every day should be used to improve. But physical and mental recovery, she said, are also part of performing at a high level.

The time away helped her think less about golf and concentrate more clearly on the present when she returned.

Rather than allowing herself to become caught up in possible outcomes, she tried to approach the tournament one shot at a time. As her game improved, confidence followed.

“Golf has taught me many things — to accept the good things and also to accept the bad things,” Jeeno said.

“We are all ordinary people. Sometimes we can think positively, but there are also moments when we overthink, worry or feel nervous. That is part of the challenge of being an athlete.”

 

Late setback tests Jeeno’s mindset

That philosophy was put to the test during the final round of the LOTTE Championship.

Jeeno surrendered two shots with a double bogey on the 16th hole, temporarily opening the door to her rivals, before responding with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th to secure the title.

For Jeeno, mistakes are an unavoidable part of golf, much as difficulties are part of everyday life. What matters, she said, is identifying what went wrong, accepting it and moving on.

“Every victory has been difficult, whether it was the 10th or the 11th,” she said.

“That is one of the reasons I play golf — to beat the negative thoughts in my head and then lift the trophy.”

Four titles underline consistency in 2026

The 2026 season is the first since Jeeno became a full-time LPGA Tour member in 2022 in which she has collected four titles.

Her run began with the Honda LPGA Thailand in February, her first victory at the home event. She successfully defended the Mizuho Americas Open in May, added The Standard Portland Classic in August and followed with the LOTTE Championship in October.

Across 17 appearances this season, Jeeno has recorded 10 top-10 finishes, underlining the consistency behind her title haul rather than relying on a handful of exceptional weeks.

Her fourth victory also leaves her level with world No.1 Nelly Korda for the most LPGA Tour wins this season.

Career prize money passes US$20 million

The LOTTE Championship also brought Jeeno another career milestone.

Her winner’s cheque of US$450,000 lifted her official LPGA Tour career earnings to US$20,210,011.

At 23, she became only the sixth player in LPGA Tour history to exceed US$20 million in official career prize money, joining a group that includes Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Cristie Kerr, Lydia Ko and Nelly Korda. She reached the milestone in just 101 LPGA starts and has yet to win a major championship.

Asked what crossing the US$20 million mark meant to her, Jeeno responded with characteristic humour.

“That means I have to pay more tax,” she joked.

She added that prize money is not what she thinks about first when competing. Her priority is continuing to improve her game so she can remain on the LPGA Tour for many years, while earnings are a consequence of that work rather than its main purpose.

Jeeno’s four-win season therefore tells a story not only of sporting success but also of managing the demands of a professional career.

For one of the world’s leading golfers, stepping away has not meant stepping backwards. At times, it has provided the reset needed to return with a clearer mind — and another opportunity to win.