LPGA Tour star Atthaya Thitikul joins Lydia Ko in EXCLUSIVE CLUB...

Atthaya Thitikul has become just the second woman from Thailand to reach World No.1 and the second player to achieve this mark under the age of 20.

Matt Chivers's picture
Mon, 31 Oct 2022
LPGA Tour: Atthaya Thitikul becomes new World No.1 at just 19 YEARS OLD

Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul has become the new World No.1 in women's golf after a series of fantastic performances on the LPGA Tour.

Thitikul has become the second player from her nation to reach the top of the Rolex Rankings and she has become the second-ever player to reach this mark before the age of 20.

Lydia Ko staggeringly became World No.1 at the age of 17 in 2015. Thitikul is also in her rookie year on the LPGA Tour and she is just the second player to reach World No.1 in her first season since Sung Hyun Park in 2017.

Thitikul has replaced Jin Young Ko who has spent a total of 152 weeks atop the Rolex Rankings in her career. Thitikul had been ranked second since October 3 before hopping up one place.

The talented youngster has two wins to her name on the LPGA Tour and four wins on the Ladies European Tour. She most recently won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in September.

She won for the first time on the LET at the Ladies European Thailand Championship in 2017 at the age of 14, becoming the youngest-ever winner of a professional golf tournament. Three years later, she won the Thai LPGA Tour Order of Merit.

In 2021, Thitikul won the Ladies European Tour Order Merit in her rookie year and she was also named player of the year too. Her meteoric rise in the game has resulted in her reaching the pinnacle of the world rankings.

"It means a lot for my team, my family, my supporters and myself. It is such an honour to have my name at the top amongst the biggest names of the game," said Thitikul.

"It is very special to get to the top but it is much harder to retain it. I still have a lot to learn from all the legends and current players both on and off the course. I will continue to work hard for my family, my team, my fans and my country."

New Rolex Rankings as of October 31

1. Atthaya Thitikul

2. Jin Young Ko

3. Lydia Ko

4. Nelly Korda 

5. Minjee Lee