Staff WriterThe CME Championship always finds a way to expose nerves, brilliance, and the odd miracle, but this week it’s been a stage for one woman’s ruthless efficiency. Jeeno Thitikul rolled through the third round like a runaway train, looking every bit the world No.1 as she tightened her grip on the CME Championship leaderboard with a sparkling 6-under 64.
Thitikul didn’t just play well — she made the rest of the field look as if they’d turned up wearing oven mitts. Nine birdies, including streaks of three straight on the front nine and four on the back, pushed her to a tournament-record 54-hole total of 194. She hit 11 of 14 fairways, 15 greens, and needed only 25 putts. In short: she was busy dismantling Naples one pin at a time.
The Thai star has now poured in a field-leading 24 birdies through three rounds, sits tied for most greens hit all week (48/54), and posted the lowest three-round score of her LPGA career. It’s the seventh time this year she’s slept on a lead, and with nine more birdies today, she’s locked up the LPGA single-season record for birdie-or-better average.
She’s within touching distance of two major season honours — Rolex Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy — and is on pace to clip Annika Sorenstam’s all-time scoring average record if she finishes at -25 or better. To the surprise of absolutely no one, she isn’t pretending this run is accidental.
“I do have one restaurant that own our dinner like every single day in CME, like every single years too. So the name of the restaurant is Sushi Thai Too, if I say it right. But I believe it is, but it’s so many branch of it. And then like the owner is Thai and he walk with me recently like every round that I play here in CME and then they’re really nice. You’re far away from home, to be able to eat the food that you would love it and then the food that you’re used to just feel like home.”
If comfort food counts as a competitive edge, someone might want to check Sushi Thai Too for performance-enhancing spices.
Korda and Anannarukarn Keep The Chase Alive
Two players sit six shots back and doing their best not to let Thitikul escape into the Florida sunset. Nelly Korda and Pajaree Anannarukarn both signed for 65s, the sort of number that usually earns you a sniff of the lead — unless Jeeno’s around.
Korda’s round was an exercise in composure: bogey-free, seven birdies, 13/14 fairways and 16 greens. The American hasn’t won since 2024’s The ANNIKA but is lurking with intent in her ninth appearance at this event. She’s not just drawing attention from fans, either.
“He loves golf and I love that he loves golf. I love how golf and sports brings so many people together, so it’s fun to see. And hopefully one day we hit the links together.”
The “he,” of course, is LeBron James, who decided to post about her on his Instagram Stories. Not the worst morale boost before a Sunday slug-fest.
Anannarukarn, meanwhile, put together a seven-under round featuring six birdies, a bogey, and an eagle thrown in for fun. Ranked No.60 in the Race to CME Globe — the very last player to sneak into the field — she’s making this look more like destiny than luck.
“We’re really good friends, and it’s awesome to see she’s doing well. She’s been playing very consistent. Again, she’s a good friend of mine and I think we just really, it’s just cool to have a good friend and best friends on Tour because we travel a lot, like far from home, and it’s nice to have someone close.”
Whatever happens Sunday, Thailand is guaranteed at least one player swinging freely toward the finish line.
The Movers, The Shakers, and One Spectacular 62
Sei Young Kim delivered her third straight round in the 60s — a 68 that kept her hovering in fourth — while LPGA rookie Somi Lee matched her with a clean, confident 68 of her own. Both hit fairways as if by remote control.
But the round of the day belonged to Gaby Lopez, who lapped the scoreboard with a sizzling 10-under 62. Ten birdies. No bogeys. Just pure, uninterrupted aggression from a player who barely squeezed into weekend relevance yesterday.
“Golf is a crazy sport. You know, I think that I just got to give all the credit to my team. They have done an unbelievable work with me. They have stuck with me in the lows and the highs. Today is a high and tomorrow we don’t know what’s going to happen.
But, yeah, very proud of all the work we’ve put in during the year. Last year I missed CME. I was 61st for half a point. Today I’m standing here with an unbelievable round. I’m just trying to embrace it. I’m trying to enjoy it and, I don’t know, just be proud of the girl that still is trying to have fun out there.”
Whatever she’s drinking, someone bottle it.
What A Sunday Win Would Mean
Thitikul is marching toward the kind of career milestone list that makes accountants misty-eyed. A win would be her seventh LPGA victory, third of the season, and make her the winningest player of 2025. It would also move her into the top 10 on the career money list, make her the fastest player in history to $17 million, and cement her place as the most successful Thai player ever.
Korda, meanwhile, would snag her 16th LPGA title and become just the third American to win this event. Anannarukarn would smash through the $7 million mark and become the lowest-ranked Rolex player ever to win the CME Championship — from No.60 in the standings, no less.
This isn’t just a final round. It’s a full-blown grab-what-you-can sweepstakes.
She’s never finished outside the top 10 at this tournament, and she’s taken to Florida’s closing stop like she owns a timeshare here. If she closes this out, she’ll join Lydia Ko and Jin Young Ko as the only multi-time winners of the CME Championship.
The Stage Is Set
Thitikul heads into Sunday at -22, armed with a scoring record, a six-shot cushion, and the kind of form that makes statisticians reach for aspirin. Korda and Anannarukarn are chasing, Kim is lurking, and Lopez is charging from a different zip code.
One more round to decide a champion.
One more round for history.
And one more chance for someone — anyone — to stop Jeeno Thitikul from turning this year’s CME Championship into a coronation.
