Jeeno Thitikul first came to the Honda LPGA Thailand event with her grandfather when she was 8 years old. She recalled watching Michelle Wie West and Ai Miyazato, two household names in their respective countries, delight the crowds in Pattaya.
At age 14, Thitikul played in the event for the first time, beating half the field. Now, almost 10 years later, she returns as the world No. 1.
"To be able to play as a world No. 1 in my hometown," said Thitikul, "which is kind of meaning to not just me, but to be honest, for the teams and then for all the Thai people that can be proud. It's just an example to all the kids that it's nothing impossible."
This marks Thitikul's seventh playing of the Honda LPGA Thailand. She has finished in the top 3 on three different occasions, finishing runner-up in 2021 to Ariya Jutanugarn, the first Thai player to reach No. 1.
This marks the 19th edition of the LPGA's Thailand stop. Russy Gulyanamitta was the first Thai player to join the tour in 2004, two years before the LPGA staged its first event in Thailand. Virada Nirapathpongporn, a U.S. Women's Amateur and NCAA champion at Duke, was just beginning her professional career back then and the Song twins — Aree and Naree – were making headlines. Born in Bangkok, the Wongluekiets took their father's South Korean name and flag after their amateur careers took off.
Now, two decades later, Thai players are mainstays on the LPGA, winning majors and collecting year-end hardware. In 2024, Patty Tavatanakit, the 2021 ANA Inspiration champion, became the second Thai player to win the Honda event.
This week, 21 of the top 25 players in the world are in the field of 72 with a total of eight Thai players.
Thitikul was 3 years old when the Honda was first staged and has essentially grown up with the event.
"It's just, like, time flies," said Thitikul, who celebrates a birthday on Friday. "I feel like 14 and now going to turn 23 soon, almost 10 years."
Thitikul's first stint as world No. 1 was a short one, lasting only two weeks in the fall of 2022. She regained the spot on Aug. 4, 2025, by overtaking Nelly Korda with a relentless consistency. She has now held the top spot for 28 consecutive weeks.
"This sounds bad but it's a compliment," said 2025 Honda champ Angel Yin. "(Thitikul) doesn't have this spectacular multiple wins a year or those huge highlights, but I think that just shows how good she is. Because she's just so consistent that she — because of her consistency, she became world No. 1.
"To me, that's more impressive than an extremely highlighted person. I think that's what I strive to become or be more of."
Thitikul flew to the U.S. in January to make her debut in the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She took a share of seventh at the weather-shortened event, and then chose not to defend her title at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.
Thitikul pointed to the wrist injury she suffered late last year as a reason she wanted to spend several weeks with her coach in the run-up to the event. She took time off in December to heal and needed the extra time.
"I would say to be honest, I'm not really been 100 percent confident with my iron shots that much compared to like end of last year," she said, "but I still work on it."
Thitikul, who led the tour in scoring last year, felt that her shot distribution last year was too wide.
The Honda kicks off a three-week swing in Asia for the LPGA, with the tour headed next to Singapore and then China. In terms of fan support, Thitikul ranks the galleries at Siam Country Club as one of the top 3 stops on tour.
When asked if she felt like this could be the year she finally wins on home soil, Thitikul said she'll give it her best, but that it already feels special to represent the Thai crowd as world No. 1.
That alone is reason to celebrate.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jeeno Thitikul, world No. 1, plays Honda LPGA Thailand in hometown