Atthaya Thitikul and Ruoning Yin, a couple of 21-year-old hotshots who have risen to No. 1 in the past, teamed up for the first time at the 2024 Dow Championship and walked away winners.
The partnership came together during a Callaway sponsorship shoot last November. Thitikul, who had never played in the event before, asked Yin to team up with her.
“She doesn’t have any option,”said Thitikul, who buried the winning birdie putt on the par-3 18th. “I’m just forcing her to play with me.”
It was LPGA victory No. 3 for both players, who closed with a 62 in the best-ball format at Midland Country Club to finish at 22 under for the tournament, edging Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho by a shot. Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis certainly kept a close eye on the American duo as a potential pairing for this year’s Solheim.
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand plays her shot from the 18th tee during the final round of the 2024 Dow Championship at Midland Country Club. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Danish players Nicole Broch Estrup and Nanna Koerstz Estrup took a share of third with South Koreans Haeji Kang and In Kyung Kim at 19 under.
Charley Hull, another first-time Dow participant, teamed up with lifelong friend Georgia Hall to take a share of third with Auston Kim and Grace Kim (no relation).
Brooke Henderson and Lexi Thompson highlighted a logjam of players in a share of eighth that included Nasa Hataoka and Jin Young Ko as well as the all-star mom pairing of Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang, two longtime Solheim Cup partners and major winners.
John Shippen Women’s Invitational winner Georgia Oboh and her partner Lakareber Abe, who were playing on a sponsor exemption, also tied for eighth. Neither player has LPGA status.