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After Finishing Second in Back-to-Back Seasons, Jeeno Thitikul Captures 2024 Aon Risk Reward Challenge Title
Editor's Note: This article is written in partnership with AON.
Jeeno Thitikul’s Instagram bio reads “The present moment is all you have, so please enjoy it.” This seems especially fitting this week as the 21-year-old LPGA Tour pro is indeed enjoying the moment after capturing the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, the Aon Trophy and its $1-million prize.
The Thailand native has secured three career wins in her three short years on Tour, the latest being this season’s Dow Championship with teammate and friend Ruoning Yin. On a stage with the world’s best players, Thitikul’s been able to elevate her game to another level, and by tallying a -0.900 final Aon Risk Reward Challenge score, she can add the Aon Trophy to her growing list of accomplishments since turning pro at the age of 19.
“I’m very proud to win the Aon Risk Reward Challenge and join the players who came before me in taking home the Aon Trophy,” says Thitikul. “This competition celebrates the strategic decision making that defines golf. Aon’s support of women’s golf means a lot and showcases us as players, helping to grow the Tour.”
In seizing the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, Thitikul’s strategic decision making on Challenge holes made the difference, reaching the par 5s in two with a 39 percent success rate, the second highest of any player, and leading on those holes with a 4.35 scoring average. Those tenacious approach shots led to 45 percent of her Strokes Gained on Challenge holes while hitting 90 percent of those greens in regulation.
“My strategy overall was to go for birdies on reachable par 4s and par 5s, which turned out to be the Challenge holes,” says Thitikul, who collects detailed data on every aspect of her game to determine which areas specifically need work. “Going into the season, succeeding on those holes was a big goal for me. My ball striking and putting have been pretty strong. This season, I wanted to focus on consistency in my execution, especially on approach shots. I’ve been working on not overthinking the shots, just being confident in my game and going for it, which worked out on the Challenge holes.”
The Aon Risk Reward Challenge will return on the LPGA Tour in 2025, kicking off at the Tournament of Champions event in Orlando. For all Aon Risk Reward Challenge details, visit here.