THE MODERATOR: All right, we are here with the 2025 CME Group Tour Championship winner Jeeno Thitikul for the second year in a row. Can you just talk to us a little bit about your win and what it's meant this entire week to play at the level you have.
JEENO THITIKUL: Yeah, I think earlier of the week I just saying be able to finish four round of golf here just more than I could ask for already, but standing here with the trophy on Sunday, hold the trophy, it's just like more than I really, really could ask for for sure.
I mean, like all that work that I put in with my team kind of paid off here today again.
Q. And in addition to this trophy you received the Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year. I mean, in the history books, you're there. What has this meant to you? Has this set in for you?
JEENO THITIKUL: I think it's just an honor. Definitely all that Vare Trophy, like Player of the Year is always going to be representing how consistency you are in the whole long season, but hold that trophy just feel, you know, kind of goosebump because like I think it's had all the history about golf from all the players.
Q. I know it wasn't the easiest road to get here. How proud are you for overcoming some of the things you faced earlier in the season to get to this point?
JEENO THITIKUL: Long time. It's been long. I mean, I go through happy moment and I go through a sad moment for sure during the season.
Nothing has -- I think I believe not everyone can get what they want all the time. Yes, today I do get what I want, but like tomorrow, the other day, maybe I can't get what I want again.
I mean, the win, but like standing here today looking back what I had on my belt this season, all the feelings-wise, I think it help me grow a lot like mentally-wise, physically-wise.
Another another (indiscernible) shirt again.
Q. In 202e when you became Rolex Player of the Year -- excuse me, Rolex Rankings No. 1 for the first time you said it didn't really change your life too much. Your life has changed a lot since that moment. How has your life changed in 2025 and how has it changed since that last putt dropped right now?
JEENO THITIKUL: My life still be the same I guess. I need to hit the ball the same. I need to putt and chip still.
I mean, like I just -- like I always say I don't think any -- like all the wins that I have going, like anyone can't take it from me and then I don't think it's going to like be special person, special like people in the whole wide world.
I think I just been the same human being as you guys. I had to work. I has things to do. I had some happy moment; I had some sad moments. Just you sum up of describing a life.
Q. Congratulations.
JEENO THITIKUL: Thank you.
Q. When did you first start to feel pain in your wrist? Was it last week at home?
JEENO THITIKUL: It was last week Wednesday, just on the range.
Q. And how do you tailor your practice after that and then going...
JEENO THITIKUL: I still practice like the day after I felt, but I mainly focus on, you know, the short games putting-wise, chipping-wise.
I did hit balls on Thursday and Friday, but after Friday I just not hitting balls. I just stopped practicing. I didn't practice on Saturday and Sunday because I want to be able to play this week. I think stop is the good choice to protecting my wrist.
And then coming here I did play Monday nine holes and I didn't hit a ball on Tuesday because I want to keep it not too like pained. And then I just play the pro-am Wednesday and just know that, okay, I think I was able to play.
Q. Last year you went to Disney; you bought a car. Any idea what you're going to do to celebrate this one?
JEENO THITIKUL: I think I have to definitely shopping. It's in my head for sure. (Laughter.)
It's the way of strategy when you earn it then you have to spend it and earn it again. If not you keep it and maybe you can't earn anymore.
So definitely going to shopping, but I think I have to give it to my parents some part of it. (Smiling.)
Q. Anything in particular you want to spend it on?
JEENO THITIKUL: Not yet. Not yet. I spent a lot this year.
Q. When Craig was saying that you had a lower scoring average than Annika you made a face of shock. What does that mean to you to beat that record?
JEENO THITIKUL: It just such an honor. I mean, like never ever dreaming to like having that record at all. I mean, like that's really amazing award that I am going to have.
And then one time that I can be like the lowest score average in my whole like career should be a really amazing.
Q. You started with the big lead and it was down to two after seven holes. Did you now that?
JEENO THITIKUL: (Shakes head.)
Q. You didn't pay attention to the leaderboard at all?
JEENO THITIKUL: Not at all. I just know at 17 green.
Q. You didn't ask until 17 green?
JEENO THITIKUL: Yes. Even my mind want to look on the leaderboard too much but I'm not.
Q. Okay.
JEENO THITIKUL: So I didn't know anything at all.
Q. Okay.
JEENO THITIKUL: Yep.
Q. When you look back on the season in a couple months, a year, what do you think you'll remember about it?
JEENO THITIKUL: Food. (Laughter.)
I don't know. I just like -- but with golf I do had like -- I remember the day that I came to Dallas after the Kroger. I have the ice pack put in my eyes because I cried so bad. That's I remember.
And then I willingly took a picture holding like this. It's weird.
But I just want to reminding myself that the day that you reach to there or the day that you like, you know, the happiness in your life, this day will come definitely. Like the sadness days will come.
So just, you know, kind of like whatever you had in your career doesn't define who you are and doesn't define like who I am as a Jeeno, too.
So it's pretty much what I have remember about last couple months.
Q. Obviously Gong's birthday today. How do you celebrate tonight with him and Pajaree who finished second here?
JEENO THITIKUL: I think Gong just my lucky charm for this tournament because his birthday always at this tournament and I have to give him a present every year, every year.
So don't change the date please, LPGA. (Laughter.)
Remember 23rd November always going to be in this particular day for me.
I mean, he's such an incredible person who I been able to know for the -- I don't know, he was on my bag for like six, seven years already. Since I was still an amateur until now.
I think he got a lot of complaint from Thai fans, like earlier, like a bad complaint from Thai fans that why Jeeno not change her caddie. She should change her caddie to like American or a European caddies.
I never thought of that at all because I know I'm just be really comfortable with him on my bag, and whoever who is talking bad about him, he's just the really nicest guy that I ever know.
Q. What does this mean for and you Pajaree to finish first and second? She is like your big sister out here in a lot of ways and one of your best friends. How cool is it to share this moment?
JEENO THITIKUL: Great. I think last time that we're in Korea and then we just go to shopping, right? And Pajaree is just like, I can't shop. I need to like focus and playing good to be able to shopping.
So now she can be able to shopping with me, so great.
And then it's just I'm seeing her from like -- from turn pro until now. I think I saw every step of her career and I just can't be happier about her to like be able to finish second here and finish strong for the season, because she been through a lot of ups and downs that I've been know and we talk a lot with that.
But I'm just really grateful to be able to know her and then be able to celebrating with her in each step of our life.
Q. When you look back on that vacation to Banff, what role did that play in turning your psyche around?
JEENO THITIKUL: Yes. I think that one is kind of like turning -- my like turning point I guess because it's happen after Kroger. Like I spend like a week almost in Banff and Lake Louise and I just finding a lot more beautiful things around and a lot more things that we should appreciate around. Not just the bad thing that we going to be regret, but like life has a lot more things for us to do around. Not just like sitting on the room, you know, like overthinking things.
Yeah.
Q. Did you play any golf on that vacation?
JEENO THITIKUL: Who going to bring a golf club for the vacation? No. Some does. Some does. But not professionals golfer. (Laughter.)
Q. Just on the topic of food is it the papaya salad tonight?
JEENO THITIKUL: Definitely. Hundy percent. I request that last night. I can't wait. Can we finish now? I wanting to eat? (Smiling.)
THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Jeeno.
JEENO THITIKUL: Thank you. Yay!
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