Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand turned back a pair of challenges Sunday and played bogey-free over the final 27 holes at Liberty National, closing with a 3-under 69 for a four-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the Mizuho Americas Open.
Thitikul, who captured the Race to CME Globe and its 4 million prize to end last season, won for the first time this year and the fifth time in her LPGA Tour career.
Nelly Korda is still trying to win for the first time this year. She was within one shot of Thitikul until driving into the hazard on the par-4 ninth hole and taking bogey. It was a downward spiral from there, as Korda played the back nine with two bogeys and no birdies and was never a factor the rest of the way.
The final challenge came from Boutier, who was posed to catch the Thai player on the 15th hole when she hit her approach to 10 feet. Thitikul faced a tough par save from a bunker left of the green, with her foot up against the slope and having to clear another bunker to a back pin.
Thitikul pulled off the shot perfectly to 3 feet to save par. Boutier not only missed her birdie chance, she missed the 30-inch comeback putt and made bogey. Instead of a two-shot swing and a tie for the lead, Boutier fell three back with three holes to play.