The world number 1 has a pressure deflator. She only says 4 words

Jeeno Thitiful is feeling grateful, sarcastically. She was just reminded that in four previous appearances at this week’s HSBC Women’s World Championship, she had not finished outside the top 10, which should have been a compliment.

But Thitiful chose to look at it in a different way.

“Thanks for the pressure,” she said, then added:

“No worries.”

This drew smiles and the symbolism was thicker than any rough course.

The pressure seems to be everywhere Thitikul. It was there at last week’s Honda LPGA in Thailand, Thitikul’s home event, a tournament she considers the equal of any major when it comes to value. Then there are the leaders themselves. She has won everything – except one of them. There is also the pressure to be ranked on top of the world because the world then tends to look your way.

And yet?

Yes, no worries. To cope, Thitikul said on Tuesday that he is swearing by a four-word mantra. It’s a pressure deflator, just like using a touch of sarcasm, and the saying is:

Dance in the rain.

This is deeper. This is intended. This is played on her pressure points.

How Jeeno Thitikul approached the pressure during the Honda LPGA event in Thailand

On Tuesday, Thitiful said he still had little sleep. Adrenaline will do that, and on Sunday at the Honda LPGA Thailand, it’s flowing. However, she said she was determined that no matter what happened, her country’s fans would get a show.

And they did. And Thitikul won by one stroke.

“The nerves are always going to be there, but you have to get over the nerves,” she said. “Sometimes you worry about the future, about what I’m going to do.

“But I told myself, this is the time you need joy with it, you need joy with excitement, you need joy with nervous moments.

“That’s why I try to dance in the rain.”

Then it’s on to the next week, and the chance to do it again.

“I feel like you just want that day, and then yesterday was like another new day that the trophy wasn’t there anymore,” Thitikul said. “It’s a new week, it’s a new journey, it’s new topics.”

How will Jeeno Thitikul handle the pressure in her pursuit of a big win

Thitikul’s theme of yet to win a major has followed – her best showing was a runner-up finish last year Evian Championship. However, her point is: There are five chances this year. And five next year. And so on.

More dances.

“Obviously when the moment of pressure, when the nervous moment comes, you won’t get it every time”, Thitikul said. “… You have 10 times, you will not get it 10 times. You will definitely fall for sure.

“But I think the times you fail, that’s when you learn what you’re going to do next time. But if you fail, that’s good. Because you’re going to come back the 11th time.”

Thitikul also said he learned last week that he doesn’t need a “100 percent perfect” game to win. In Thailand, she thought her iron game was far below that.

“So I think about the goals of the degrees, whatever, I think it will always be with me,” she said. “That’s obviously if I’m not at 100 percent of my game, but I’ve got to be out there and be able to bounce back.”

How will Jeeno Thitikul approach the pressure of being world number 1

Interestingly, Thitikul had been ranked no. 1 ago – for a week, after the 2022 Toto Japan Classic, when she was 19 years old. Afterwards, she said she put pressure on herself. But things have changed.

Opinions have changed.

“It’s definitely different from my way of looking at things,” Thitikul said. “Having perspective any way to look at it because at the time, I think I was very young, and then I just put a lot of pressure on myself. I know a lot of people already had their eyes on me and are already waiting for me. … At that time, I see things so seriously. Even if I missed a shot, I felt it was bad.

“Right now, when I have a bad shot, it’s OK, you have another one. I think it’s more relaxing. It’s a little thing to deal with. But I just said to myself, I really liked being where I am now and then I won’t be in this position forever. There will be more top players, but I want to perform at my best and enjoy this position.”

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