Minjee Lee shares 5th place through 36 at CME Globe Championship
Minjee Lee – within striking distance at the halfway stage – file photo USGA
The LPGA Tour’s flagship event, the CME Group Tour Championship, has reached a crucial stage at the Tiburon Golf Club on the Southwest Coast of Florida and once again the game’s most dominant player in 2025, Jeeno Thitikul has staked a claim to win yet another title this season.
The defending champion in one of the richest events of the season, Thitikul, has opened up a three-shot lead over another former winner of the event, Sei Young Kim.
Thitikul has been either 1st or 2nd in six events this season, has a win on the Ladies European Tour in addition and has established a significant lead in the Rolex World rankings over the dominant player of 2024, Nelly Korda.
When asked to draw a comparison between winning this event and a major title, Thitikul responded.
“I think should be the same,” said the 22-year-old Thai golfer, now in her fourth LPGA Tour season.
“I think like the course condition-wise, definitely I think the major is more like tougher and harder. I think it really depends on like how you play out there in those particular days. Like — in every tournament, I am trying to feel the same as always.
But I like the course conditions, the players, the pressure sometimes I know it’s different, but I’m always trying to stay grounded and be the same.
Thitikul was also asked about the expectations on her coming into the event as the world number one.
“I don’t have expectations about myself, so I don’t think I need to like expect — like manage any expectation from others.
Because when you talk to others, everyone might talk the same and then might think the same because you came here as the world No. 1, but obviously, what number you are has the same chance as everyone else, starting any week.
So this is any week as well. Tomorrow, it’s a new day. Sunday is a new day. Everything can happen with golf.”
Minjee Lee leads the Australasian charge, the Perth golfer five shots from the lead after a second round of 67.
“I mean, I had a pretty nice start,” said Lee. “Four birdies on the front and then one birdie on the back. But I feel like I’m going pretty steady out there. I think for the most part it was pretty solid. Just going to try and clean up my shots a little bit and hope for a really great weekend.
“I’m going to try to do my very best like I do every single week, week in, week out. Yeah, that’s just the way it is for everyone. It’s the end of the year. Yeah, you just got to put all your energy into it and hopefully have a great event.”
That energy needed over the weekend becomes even more important when the carrot of US$4 million to the winner is considered.
Two-time winner of the event, Lydia Ko, is seven shots from the lead after her round of 68 today.
