Thailand’s rising star Atthaya Thitikul became the sixth player from her country to win on the LPGA Tour, following her playoff victory over Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen in the JTBC Classic presented by Barbasol yesterday.

"It's just crazy in my mind right now. I cannot believe that I’ve become an LPGA winner. It feels amazing as well," said Thitikul, who picked up her 11th professional title but first on the LPGA Tour.

At 19 years and 25 days, Thitikul is the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour since Brooke Henderson won the 2016 Portland Classic at 18 years, 9 months and 23 days.

Starting the final round six shots back of overnight leader Koerstz Madsen, Thitikul posted a superb closing 64 to set the clubhouse target of 16-under-par at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, California. The Dane had a one-shot lead playing the par-four 18th but made bogey for a closing 70 to send the tournament into overtime.

The duo matched pars on the first hole of the playoff, contested on the 18th, with Thitikul missing an eight-foot birdie putt. In their third trip down 18 in a day, it was the Thai who prevailed with a two-putt bogey from 10 feet after Koerstz Madsen missed a 15-footer for bogey having found water with her second shot.

Atthaya Thitikul with fellow Thai and close friend Pajaree Anannarukarn at the 2021 ISPS Handa World Invitational

Thitikul joins the Jutanugarn sister Ariya (12 wins) and Moriya (2), Patty Tavatanakit (1), Jasmine Suwannapura (2) and Pajaree Anannarukarn (1) as Thai winners on the LPGA Tour.

Pajaree, who broke through for her first LPGA win at last year’s ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland, was one of the first few to congratulate Thitikul after the playoff as the two are close friends. She also enjoyed a good outing at Aviara, finishing T4 on 14-under-par with World No 1 Jin Young Ko of South Korea and Canada’s Maude-Aimee Leblanc.

“I was there when she (Pajaree) got her first win in Ireland, and she was here when I got my first win as well, so it's really special that I have her here because we are pretty close to each other,” shared Thitikul, who coiincidentally finished fourth at the ISPS Handa event.

“It means the world to me, to our team as well. I know my parents are watching back at home. They have been supporting me since day one, and then my manager is here, my coach, caddie,” she added.

Meanwhile, Malaysian ladies’ number one Kelly Tan finished T42 on four-under-par to seal her place in this week’s The Chevron Championship (formerly The ANA Inspiration). She will be joined by young compatriot Natasha Andrea Oon, one of five amateurs invited to compete in the first Major of the year at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.