Atthaya Thitikul Becomes Second-Youngest World No.1
The 19-year-old has overtaken Jin Young Ko at the top of the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings
![Atthaya Thitikul takes a shot during the 2022 BMW Ladies Championship](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VZy7TTMmixxE6va5mG69jS-415-80.jpg)
Thai player Atthaya Thitikul has become World No.1 for the first time, aged just 19, after finishing sixth in the BMW Ladies Championship.
The prodigy’s achievement puts her in exclusive company alongside Lydia Ko as the only other player to reach the summit before turning 20. Thitikul achieved the feat aged 19 years, eight months and 11 days, whereas Ko became World No.1 aged just 17 in 2015.
Thitikul, who has replaced Jin Young Ko at the top, was delighted with the achievement. She said: "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. 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."
Thitikul has had an impressive season including two wins on the LPGA Tour among 14 top-10 finishes. That included three in this year’s Majors as her career has flourished. Thitikul arrived on the scene in 2017. After making her debut on the LPGA Tour in February that year, she became the youngest player to win a professional tournament, the Ladies European Thailand Championship, on the Ladies European Tour five months later aged 14 years, four months and nine days. She has also been the World No.1 amateur twice after originally reaching the summit in 2019.
The player's reputation was further enhanced in 2021 when, following an incredible season, she was named LET Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. In reaching World No.1, she becomes the 16th player to achieve the honour and the second from Thailand after Ariya Jutanugarn held the position from June 2017 to March 2019. She is also only the second player to do so in her rookie year, after Sung Hyun Park in November 2017.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Jon Rahm Calls For Links Event To Be Added To LIV Golf Schedule
The Legion XIII captain has told Golf Digest a links event immediately before The Open would offer the ideal preparation for LIV Golf players
By Mike Hall Published
-
How One UK Golfer Defied The Odds To Set A New World Record...
The incredible story of how Steven Dashevsky broke the world record for playing one round of golf on all six continents in the shortest period of time
By Mark Townsend Published
-
Listen To The Official Anthem Of The AIG Women’s Open
'Rising Up' has been crafted to drive new energy to the sport and give the AIG Women's Open a memorable sound for years to come
By Alison Root Published
-
How To Watch The Olympic Golf Events At Paris 2024
Find out how to watch a star-studded men's and women's Olympic Golf event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in both the USA and UK
By Paul Higham Published
-
CPKC Women’s Open Prize Money Payout 2024
Many of the world’s best are competing at the Canada event, including defending champion Megan Khang
By Mike Hall Published
-
Star Wars Fan Ayaka Furue Takes Inspiration From Iconic Quote To Snatch Evian Championship Victory Via Late Burst
The Japanese golfer went five under through her final five holes to snatch the win away from her rivals at Evian Resort - all while thinking about six influential words...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Amundi Evian Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
The penultimate women's Major of the 2024 season offers up its highest-ever prize purse - almost double what it was in 2019
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
7 Big Names To Miss The Cut At The Amundi Evian Championship
The fourth women's Major of 2024 has made it to the halfway stage, with a number of big names set to head home for the weekend
By Matt Cradock Published
-
The 19 Golfers To Have Made The Cut In Every Women's Major So Far This Year
We take a look at the best scores from the 19 players who have made the cut in all three women's Majors so far in 2024
By Paul Higham Published
-
‘The Rules Need To Be Enforced’ - Nelly Korda Reaffirms Stance On Slow Play Ahead Of Evian Championship
The World No.1 once again spoke out about the need for slow play rules to be enforced ahead of the fourth Major of the year
By Joel Kulasingham Published