Pajaree Anannarukarn celebrated with her friend while also thinking about what could have been on Sunday in Naples, Fla.

Anannarukarn, who ended up alone in second and four shots back of her fellow Thai LPGA Tour winner Jeeno Thitikul at the CME Group Tour Championship, can walk away from Tiburón Golf Club with her head held high – despite having no trophy in her luggage.

Anannarukarn was the 60th and final athlete to qualify for the field this week at the LPGA season finale, but had a wonderfully steady four days, closing with rounds of 65 and 66 over the weekend to finish runner-up to Thitikul, who won the CME Group Tour Championship for the second year in a row.
This marked Anannarukarn’s lowest career 72-hole score and was her best finish of the season. Her previous, a tie for 10th, came all the way at the beginning of the year at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

“Been an awesome week. Just no complaints. I mean, gratitude,” Anannarukarn said. “I'm just really happy with how I was able to perform well and to celebrate (Thitikul) for back-to-back wins (at the CME Group Tour Championship), so that was pretty cool.”

In Sunday’s final round, Anannarukarn started to finally put some pressure on Thitikul, who had a six-shot lead through 54 holes. Anannarukarn was 5-under in her first seven holes on Sunday, an early effort that saw her make three birdies in a row to open round four and cut Thitikul’s lead to just two shots.

She made a bogey on the par-3 12th hole, which quashed any sort of late surge, but the two-time LPGA champion added two more birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to finish her day.

Still, Anannarukarn said there were a lot of positives to take away from this week and this season as a whole.

“I think I've been, again, very happy with how I've been playing all season. There is a little bit of here and there that I want to improve and there is a lot more golf for me ahead. I still just want (to) improve myself better every day that I can, and it's fun to be able to do what you love out here,” she said. “Looking back, it's been a great season and great year.”

Instead of celebrating a maiden CME Group Tour Championship victory, she was right there to celebrate Thitikul’s third triumph of 2025, a victory that firmly cemented her Thai counterpart as the LPGA Tour’s best player.

Thitikul said the last time she and Anannarukarn were together was in the Republic of Korea, and when Jeeno joked that she wanted to go shopping, Pajaree said she couldn’t because she needed to focus and play well.

“Now she can (go) shopping with me,” Thitikul said with a laugh in her winning press conference. “I’m seeing her from turning pro until now. I think I saw every step of her career, and I just can’t be happier about her to be able to finish second here and finish strong for the season because she has been through a lot of ups and downs, and we talk a lot (about) that.

“I’m really grateful to be able to know her and then be able to celebrate with her in each step of our life.”

Anannarukarn was also quick to heap praise on her countrywoman, whose caddie also had a birthday on Sunday, which meant it was time for sushi and a double celebration.

“It's amazing for what (Jeeno) has done and what she's doing. I think it's just good for the game and golf in Thailand as well,” Anannarukarn said of Thitikul. “She's been a big role model to a lot of new generations and to us and she inspired so much, even us, too. So, it's good to see that, and there is a lot (more) accomplishment that we want to do out here. It's just for now, I think it's just been awesome.”

There has been plenty of great Thai success on the LPGA Tour over the last decade or so, and, seemingly, there is more to come. Anannarukarn said she’s worked hard on a handful of things through 2025 and ended up saving the best for last.

She also hopes that Thitikul will be there to celebrate alongside her when she finally breaks through for another LPGA Tour win, too.

“I just try to keep improving on any aspect of my game, and hopefully, will get that momentum going,” Anannarukarn said. “Really looking forward to next year.”

Pajaree Anannarukarn Celebrates Career-Best Finish at the CME Group Tour Championship

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