Lydia Ko broke down in tears after the 2022 CME Group Tour Championship. The pressure of maintaining excellence had finally caught up with her. She wasn’t alone in this struggle. Many LPGA stars have faced similar mental hurdles throughout their careers. Now, another top player is opening up about this challenge. Jeeno Thitikul has been brutally honest about the mental toll of consistent high-level performance. Yet somehow, the Thai superstar still finds the competitive fire to issue a direct challenge to home-course favorite Danielle Kang at the $2M T-Mobile Match Play.

“I think it’s definitely mentally draining to be on top of the leaderboard every week,” admitted Thitikul during her post-round press conference at Shadow Creek on Tuesday before her dominant 6&5 win in the opening round. She wasn’t sugar-coating the reality of professional golf. The 22-year-old phenom even acknowledged experiencing burnout previously in her young career.

Despite these mental challenges, Thitikul has maintained incredible form. Her 2024 season shattered the LPGA Tour’s single-season earnings record with an unprecedented $6,059,309. At just 21, Thitikul is carving her path—grabbing the LPGA Tour trophy at the CME Group Tour Championship and pocketing a jaw-dropping $4 million in the process (the largest first-place prize in women’s golf history). She’s carried that momentum into 2025 with a victory at the Saudi Ladies International and three top-5 finishes on the LPGA Tour.

This consistency hasn’t come without a price. The former world number one explained how the constant pressure takes its toll while speaking to media in the Shadow Creek press center on Tuesday. “If you’re going to be really on top every week, the mentally is going to burnout sometime as well, as I have before,” she revealed candidly.

Yet, despite these challenges, Thitikul isn’t using this mental fatigue as an excuse. Instead, she’s facing the challenge head-on with fierce determination. Her strategy? Bringing her “A-game” directly to Kang, even while acknowledging the American’s home course advantage at Shadow Creek.

Moreover, Thitikul knows the odds appear stacked against her. After all, Kang has extensive experience at Shadow Creek, along with strong hometown crowd support. However, the Thai star isn’t intimidated. Instead, she remains focused and ready to take on the challenge. “I think it’s just bring my A-game here because I know that she knew the course pretty well,” Thitikul explained.

Her tactical approach reveals a mature competitive mindset. She plans to flip the script on Kang. “I also have to put more pressure on her as well,” Thitikul stated confidently during Tuesday’s post-match interview. She understands that home-course advantage can sometimes create additional expectations.

This strategy has already paid dividends. Thitikul’s opening 6&5 victory showcased her exceptional iron play. Her confidence stands in stark contrast to Kang’s recent struggles.

This stark performance gap between the two players points to something bigger brewing on the LPGA Tour.

Jeeno Thitikul vs Danielle Kang: A brewing rivalry reshaping women’s golf

The emerging Thitikul-Kang rivalry represents a fascinating dynamic in women’s golf. They stand at opposite ends of the career spectrum. Thitikul is the ascendant star with a record-breaking trajectory. Kang is the established veteran fighting to recapture her former glory.

The numbers tell a dramatic story. Thitikul has accumulated over $465,465 in just four LPGA events this season. Kang has earned only $11,120 through five tournaments with three missed cuts.

Their statistical comparison is equally stark. ​Yet rivalries aren’t built on statistics alone. They’re fueled by compelling narrative contrasts. Thitikul’s meteoric rise versus Kang’s championship experience creates natural dramatic tension. Their different playing styles and cultural backgrounds add additional layers of interest.

The T-Mobile Match Play provides the perfect stage for this rivalry to develop. Match play format magnifies every moment. Each hole becomes its own mini-drama. For fans, this head-to-head competition offers a glimpse of the LPGA’s present and future colliding.

Will Thitikul’s mental resilience and “A-game” strategy overcome Kang’s home-course knowledge? Or will Kang use this challenge as motivation to reignite her competitive fire? The answer might just shape women’s golf’s next great rivalry.