World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul is adopting a new mindset for the U.S. Women’s Open, inspired by World No. 1 Nelly Korda’s relaxed practice schedule. Heading into the major at Riviera Country Club, Thitikul believes Korda’s balance is a key component of her sustained success.
The two best players in women’s golf have developed a compelling rivalry, trading the top spot in the Rolex Rankings over the past year. As they prepare to compete for one of the most significant titles in the sport, Thitikul has been observing her competitor’s methods closely. She noted Korda’s approach to tournament preparation is surprisingly minimal, focusing on conservation of energy. “I think she’s always one of the players that — I don’t really [see] her practice that much during the tournament,” Thitikul said. “I just always see her on the driving range a little bit before her tee time. Then [after she was done playing], she maybe just putt a couple balls and then went home.”
This “less is more” strategy initially seemed counterintuitive to the 23-year-old, who has yet to win a major championship despite her high ranking. However, Thitikul now sees the wisdom in Korda’s ability to manage her physical and mental output during a demanding tournament week. She recognizes that sustained performance at the highest level requires a delicate balance of effort and recovery, not just relentless work on the range.
Thitikul has concluded that Korda’s mindset might be as impressive as her widely admired swing. “If you put too much work and you not let your body like rest and relax, especially tournament week, I think it’s going to be a disadvantage more than an advantage,” she explained. This insight has inspired Thitikul to reassess her own major preparations. The rivalry is clearly a productive one, with both players driving each other to improve. “It’s just great to see someone that’s good-good, and then we’re just hanging around and trying to do the same things to get better together,” Thitikul added.
