Current World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul kicks off her 2026 LPGA season this week at the Tournament of Champions. After a truly strong 2025 campaign with three victories, she aims to build on that momentum – and hopes her wrist injury is finally a thing of the past.
The Thai golf star had capped off the past year with her second consecutive victory at the LPGA Tour Championship. A remarkable achievement, as she teed off then despite a painful wrist – and feared the injury might thwart her title defense.
According to her, after a quiet off-season entirely dedicated to her recovery, she now travels to Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida.
“I didn’t hit a single ball, didn’t even practice, until New Year’s, to protect my wrist,” Jeeno revealed. A tactic that has paid off, as the World No. 1 – who, by the way, also won the Mizuho Americas Open and a tournament in Shanghai in 2025, claimed the 'Player of the Year' honor, and secured the Vare Trophy for the season's best scoring average – can now breathe a sigh of relief. “I feel like I haven't had enough preparation coming here, but after a few days on the course, from Monday until now, I have to say: my irons aren't quite there yet – there's still some work to do.” But she gave the all-clear for her wrist: “It's 100 percent fit again. I feel absolutely nothing when I make ball contact. Sometimes it just feels a bit stiff when it’s cold.”
For the first time, Jeeno is teeing off at this season opener, an event where only winners from the last two seasons are eligible. Although she had been eligible for longer, it never fit into her packed schedule. “It’s quite an effort for me to come here from Thailand for just one week,” she explained. But the support for the Pro-Am event, where a celebrity-studded amateur ensemble sweeps across the course alongside the LPGA stars, was important to her after all.
Incidentally, defending champion Kim A-lim from South Korea is, of course, also competing, alongside 2024 champion Lydia Ko from New Zealand.
Current World No. 2, Nelly Korda, is also participating. She starts her 2026 campaign with high expectations and is determined to return to the winner's circle. After an incredible 2024 season with seven victories, the American unfortunately went entirely without a triumph in 2025. Time to change that!
