Jeeno Thitikul Battles Wind, Putts Way to Top of Leaderboard in Round 1

Through the morning wave at Fields Ranch East, there was a very predictable name at the top of the leaderboard.

But even Jeeno Thitikul, the game’s No.2-ranked player, had to battle the unpredictability of the Texas wind – the most common of challenges at the opener of the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Everyone in the field knew the Gil Hanse design was going to test their mettle, but the turbulent air flow through Thursday added to its difficulty.

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Still, Thitikul – who is looking for her first major title – held on tight, and opened with a 4-under 68. She was the clubhouse leader as the afternoon wave began to put their pegs in the ground.

“If the wind (changes direction) it can play totally different golf course than what we have been playing right now,” Thitikul said. “I think to be honest, it wasn’t that easy being in (red figures) every day. Just, you have to be on the fairways and on the greens to have a really good chance to make birdie as well.”

Statistically, Thitikul is built for major championship venues like Fields Ranch East, but somewhat jarringly, she was in the 100’s in strokes gained: off the tee Thursday and well into the 80’s in strokes gained: approach, per KPMG Performance Insights. She did, however, gain more than six shots to the field with her putter – firmly leading the way – making almost 200 feet of putts on Thursday.

Thitikul made a double bogey on the par-4 5th before rallying with three straight birdies on Nos. 7-9 to make the turn. She added three more circles to her scorecard on Nos. 11, 12, and 17 to close out her day.

“I think my putter went really well today,” Thitikul said. “You know, like in the front nine we had a lot of breeze going and more than the back nine, but like had hole the putt 7, 8, 9, which boost the (confidence) up making the turn to the back nine.”

Thitikul has been one of the game’s most consistent performers so far in 2025 with a win already (to go along with a win on the Ladies European Tour) along with six top-10 finishes. She leads the way in plenty of key statistical categories and can leapfrog Nelly Korda for the No. 1 spot in the world if she wins this week and Korda finishes tied for 11th or worse.

Minjee Lee was tied for the lead with Thitikul at 4 under until she hit her approach on the final hole Thursday short and into a greenside bunker en route to a bogey.

Hae Ran Ryu shot a 2-under 70. She is up there with Thitikul as one of the game’s best ball-strikers but was certainly not immune to the tricky conditions.

“It was a pretty good round today because today this golf course is too hard to make some birdies. So, today I just keep (hitting) fairways and just keep (hitting) greens and just want to make some easy pars. And then that’s a good (score) for today,” Ryu said.

“I want tomorrow less wind, but less hot also,” she added with a laugh.

Korda, meanwhile, shot an even-par 72 to open her KPMG Women’s PGA. Certainly not out of it by any means and she said she’s eager to climb the board over the next three days.

Korda, who injured herself while hitting out of the rough Monday, said she only feels pain when she tries to sleep at night – saying it’s hard to get comfortable. But she’s taped up when she plays and doesn’t feel anything.

The first order of business Thursday afternoon, she said, was to cool down.

“Even par to start the major… I mean, it was windier than I thought it would be. So, it played a little tougher. I’m pretty happy with my first round in the conditions. It was pretty windy. It was hot. It definitely takes a toll on you, the Texas heat,” Korda said. “Happy with my position.”

Positioning will continue to be key over the next 54 holes.

Rose Zhang, who shot her own even-par 72, said if you aren’t in the fairway then you’re likely to lay up or “probably having to hit some miracle shot.”

“It’s so hard to estimate where the ball is going out of the rough. Sometimes it doesn’t even come out,” Zhang said. “This week is going to play very difficult if you’re not hitting fairways.”

And it’s set to continue to be difficult with even more bothersome breezes in the forecast.