Somi Lee surged to the top of the leaderboard at the CME Group Tour Championship, opening with an impressive 8-under 64 on November 16, 2023. The South Korean golfer’s performance at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, not only earned her a two-shot lead but also put her in contention for the tournament’s lucrative $4 million prize.
Lee’s decision to adopt a putting grip similar to that of LPGA star Lydia Ko proved beneficial, as she made a series of impressive shots throughout her round. The highlight came on the par-5 17th hole, where she achieved an eagle after adjusting to the warm conditions by using a 5-iron. Although she experienced a setback with a three-putt bogey on the final hole, Lee maintained her lead over Allisen Corpuz, the former U.S. Women’s Open champion.
In a strong showing, Jeeno Thitikul, the current No. 1 player and frontrunner for LPGA Player of the Year, finished the day tied with three others after carding a 67. Thitikul, who won the Tour Championship last year, is in a favorable position to secure the Player of the Year award unless Miyu Yamashita of Japan, who opened with a 70, triumphs at this event. Yamashita has two victories this year, including the Women’s British Open.
Nelly Korda, hoping to avoid a winless season after claiming seven titles the previous year, had a frustrating day. She missed a three-foot birdie putt on the 17th and concluded her round with a score of 71.
Lee’s Strategic Changes Pay Off
Throughout the year, Lee had faced challenges with her putting. However, upon observing Lydia Ko, who was recently inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame, she decided to mimic her putting grip. “I just followed Lydia Ko’s putter grip because she’s a good player, and I thought, ‘Why not follow a good player’s putter grip?’ It worked really well,” Lee shared. This adjustment significantly contributed to her success at the Tour Championship, as she recorded only 27 putts during her round.
The CME Group Tour Championship features the top 60 players from the LPGA season, with rankings for the Race to CME Globe no longer relevant for the tournament’s outcome. The winner will take home the richest prize in women’s golf, a share of the $11 million purse.
Thitikul expressed her excitement about the season’s conclusion, stating, “I think because we’re going to finish the season… I don’t know, just excited and like we had nothing to worry about. Because this is our last tournament of the year, we just play like carefree.” Despite battling a sore left wrist from the previous week, Thitikul remains optimistic and focused on the competition, acknowledging the significance of the tournament’s financial stakes.
Competitive Landscape
Thitikul currently finds herself tied for third alongside Jin Hee Im, Nasa Hataoka, and Sei-young Kim, all of whom demonstrated strong performances. Major champions Grace Kim and Minjee Lee were also in contention with scores of 68.
Early in the day, Lexi Thompson appeared poised to challenge for the lead but struggled with a chip shot on the 17th, leading to a missed par putt. Thompson has participated in only 11 events this year, as she prepares for an upcoming marriage but still aims to make the next Solheim Cup team.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Lee and Thitikul, both of whom are poised to leave their mark on this final event of the LPGA season. With substantial financial incentives and prestigious titles on the line, the competition is set to intensify in the coming rounds.