Recharged Jeeno Set to Scale New Heights at Honda LPGA Thailand
(Pattaya, February 18, 2026) – Batteries recharged after a refreshing camping holiday in the mountains of Tak Province, Jeeno Thitikul is aiming to scale new peaks at Siam Country Club’s Old Course this week.
After some quality time away from the glaring, relentless spotlight that routinely accompanies the world number one, the Thai superstar returns to centre stage for the 19th edition of the Honda LPGA Thailand.
It’s a tournament she cherishes and a title she’d love to add to an outstanding curriculum vitae that has seen her rise to the summit of the women’s game. From her last four appearances in an event in which she first participated when she was 14, Jeeno has placed runner-up once and been third on two occasions.
“Everyone wants to win every tournament we play. I already think this is my year – playing in front of the Thai fans as the world number one for the first time. But I don’t know what the result is going to be. I can only control myself. But I will give it my best and hopefully it’s my year,” said Jeeno, who has an extra spring in her step after taking time off at the end of 2025 to recuperate both physically and mentally.
As well as allowing troublesome wrist injury a much-needed period of rest, Jeeno was able to enjoy a rare window to wind down far from the maddening crowds with a trip to the scenic province of Tak, some 430 kilometres north of Bangkok.
“I love camping. When you play golf for the whole year, sometimes you need time to get away,” said Jeeno, stressing the importance of a healthy work-life balance.
“It was great to be able to go away with friends, just hang out in the mountains where there was no phone signal. We just escaped from all the busy stuff, from the busy city … and social media as well. It was really quality time.”
On and off the course, Jeeno continues to be an inspirational role model, whose philanthropic endeavours have had such a positive impact on so many Thais.
“At this point, I am in a position that I can give back. I’m so happy when I see people that don’t have enough opportunities who now have hope in their eyes. Once I was there. I’m happy that I can give back to the community now,” said Jeeno, who will be cheered on by galleries expected to number more than 50,000 over the course of the next four days. The vast majority will be rooting for a Jeeno win.
“To be able to play as world number one in my hometown is meaningful, not just to me. I hope it makes all Thai people proud. It’s an example to all kids that nothing is impossible – and you can achieve things you never thought about,” she added.
Given her stature – and popularity – it’s fitting that Jeeno will be part of the marquee flight today (Thursday), teeing-off at 10.02 am from the first hole alongside defending champion Angel Yin of the United States and Japan’s Akie Iwai, runner-up last year.
In an epic final-day duel in 2025, Yin repelled the challenge of Iwai, who closed with an 11-under-par 61. Reflecting on that success, Yin admitted it came as something of a surprise, especially after what she described as ‘very chaotic’ start when her caddie fell sick and it was just three minutes before teeing-off that a local replacement was found. “I was just happy I didn’t get penalised or disqualified.”
Ahead of her defence, she’s not exactly exuding confidence. Yin, 13th in the world ranking, confessed: “I think my game was better last year than it is now. I’m kind of struggling right now. But you never know; sometimes a miracle does happen.”
The field for the opening stop of the LPGA Tour’s three-leg early-season Asian swing consists of no fewer than 21 of the world’s top-25 players. There arew seven of the top-10 led by Jeeno, Japan’s Miyu Yamashta, last year’s LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Hall of Famer Lydia Ko of New Zealand, China’s Yin Ruoning, rising English star Lottie Woad and Koreans Kim Hyo-joo and Kim Sei-young.
In total, there are eight Thais in the 72-strong starting line-up. Among them is Prim Prachnakorn, the only amateur.
Prim made headlines last year, winning the individual gold medal at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and leading Thailand to more golden glory in the team event.
Before the 17-year-old heads to college in Oregon in August she has the small matter of a date in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur to look forward to at the start of April.
On her LPGA Tour debut she’s been drawn with Moriya Jutanugarn. In comparison to Prim, Moriya is, at the age of 31, a grizzled veteran who’s participating in the Honda LPGA Thailand for the 16th time, having first competed as a 13-year-old amateur.
Asked what advice she would pass to Prim, Moriya deftly deferred to her younger sister, Ariya, who first played in the Honda LPGA Thailand when she was 11, the youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA Tour event.
“I would just tell her to enjoy every moment. This may be her first time at the Honda LPGA Thailand, but I’m sure it won’t be the last,” said Ariya, sagely.
The 19th edition of Honda LPGA Thailand carries a prize purse of USD 1.8 million and will be played from 19–22 February 2026 at Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya, Chonburi.