THAILAND teenager Atthaya Thitikul reached No 1 in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings released on Monday (Oct 31), supplanting Jin Young Ko at the top.

Thitikul becomes the 16th different player to reach No 1 as well as the second player from Thailand to do so. Ariya Jutanugarn was No 1 for 23 total weeks between June 2017 and March 2019.

Ko, who spent 152 total weeks atop the rankings, dropped to No 2

Thitikul is also the second player to reach the No 1 ranking in her LPGA Tour rookie year, after Sung Hyun Park in November 2017.

Thitikul, 19, is only the second player under age 20 to reach No 1, joining Lydia Ko.

“It means a lot for my team, my family, my supporters and myself. It is such an honour to have my name at the top amongst the biggest names of the game,” said Thitikul. “It is very special to get to the top but it is much harder to retain it. I still have a lot to learn from all the legends and current players both on and off the course. I will continue to work hard for my family, my team, my fans and my country.”

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In 2017, Thitikul became the youngest to win a professional golf tournament when she took the Ladies European Thailand Championship title as an amateur at 14 years, four months and 19 days. Thitikul also was the No 1-ranked amateur for 12 weeks in 2019 when she was 16.

After winning four times on the Ladies European Tour from 2017-21, Thitikul has won twice on the LPGA tour this season: the JTBC Classic in March and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in September. REUTERS