[PHOTOS: Dylan Buell]
Charley Hull wasn’t even watching Jeeno Thitikul’s birdie putt on the final hole of the Kroger City Queen Championship. She figured, like everyone, that Thitikul would drain the short putt and collect the victory.
Along with being the top-ranked player in the world, Thitikul is the best putter on the LPGA. But not on this day.
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In an improbable finish, Thitikul four-putted the 72nd hole, including three putts from five feet, and Hull – who was paired with Thitikul and started the final round with the lead – was left shaking. The English star couldn’t believe what had just happened. But she calmed her nerves, made her putt from two feet to win for the first time on tour in 1,077 days.
It was an uncharacteristic meltdown for Thitikul and a shocking finish at TPC River’s Bend just north of Cincinnati.
“I didn’t really process it,” said Hull, who was the 25th different winner in 24 events this year. “Jeeno played great today. She was very solid. Unfortunate what happened to her on the last hole.
“At the end of the day, I just felt like I needed a little bit of luck on my side in the past few years because I don’t feel like it’s ever gone my way and it’s finally got my way for once. Every dog has its day.”
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Thitikul had already won this season and seemed destined to become the first multiple winner on tour this year. She and Hull staged a great duel, until Thitikul’s head-scratching debacle on the 18th hole. She declined an interview request on site through an LPGA spokesperson.
Hull shot a final-round 68, won at 20-under 268 (68-65-67-68) and collected $US300,000 for the victory and a much-needed boost. She’s played well the past few years and already had a second-place finish at the AIG Women’s Open this season. This was her third top-10 finish of the season. He most recent LPGA title came at the Ascendant LPGA on October 2, 2022.
Hull led after 54 holes – the eighth time she held a lead heading into the final round – and played well, staging a great duel. However, the 29-year-old fell behind by one shot after the 14th hole when Thitikul made birdie. Hull made a long putt on the 16th to tie the Thai, but Hull bogeyed the 17th after her tee shot found a bunker just below the lip. Thitikul parred the hole to head into the final hole with a one-shot lead. All Thitikul had to do was make a short putt to win, or one of two short putts to tie. Instead, she bungled the opportunity. It appeared from the television broadcast that Thitikul said she was nervous standing over those last three short putts.
Hull thought she had to eagle the 18th when she got to the tee.
“On 18, pushed my driver a little bit. Hit a nice cut 9-iron round the tree. Didn’t quite cut. Thought I had to hole the putt and just two-putted,” Hull said. “I don’t really remember much from the last hole. It was a little bit of a shock. I was nervous over that putt. My hands were shaking. I think I was more shocked and the adrenaline and everything.”
Former World No.1 amateur and Scottish Open winner Lottie Woad took third place, two behind Hull. Former World No.1 Nelly Korda, still looking for her first win this year, tied for fifth place. The leading Australian was Robyn Choi, who stormed home with a closing 65 to share 12th. Minjee Lee (68 for 13-under) was a shot further adrift in a tie for 14th.
Hull has battled injuries all season, but it seems she thrives with challenges. She tore ligaments in her ankle after tripping in a carpark during the northern summer and injured her back earlier while carrying a box. There was the virus that caused her to withdraw from the Amundi Evian Championship after she collapsed. Now she is dealing with cysts in her back.
“It’s been a rocky couple of months, to be fair,” Hull said. “Obviously fainting at Evian, doing my back and then tearing the ligament in my ankle. I sound like a bit of a car crash. I don’t know. I suppose pain is just a weakness of the mind. Probably does me a bit of a favour sometimes because I end up doing too much, too much gym, practice, overthinking. It’s given me time to chill and that’s probably what I needed.”
She was then asked if she believes she plays better with injuries.
“It slows my mind down. I always find when I’m poorly – ill – I usually play good golf,” she said. “My mind is 100 miles an hour, but when I’m poorly, I find I’m more relaxed, and I probably expect less and do less. My days are usually full out, going to the gym, golf, practice. When I’m kind of poorly or injured I do a lot less and I put less pressure on myself. Then I kind of do better sometimes.”
