Jeeno Thitikul birdied the last hole at Mountain Ridge Country Club on Sunday, closing out a four-stroke victory over Ruoning Yin at the 2026 Mizuho Americas Open and earning $487,500 for first place. The 23-year-old Thai star’s win was her ninth LPGA title and her second victory of the 2026 season.
The result carried immediate financial weight beyond the trophy. Thitikul became the fastest player to cross $18 million in career earnings, extending a run that already had her as the record holder for the fastest march from $8 million all the way to $18 million. After two wins in 2026, she had nearly made $1 million on the year, a mark that underscores how quickly she has turned consistent contention into serious money.
The Mizuho Americas Open carried a purse of $3.25 million, and the payout table reflected the depth of the field behind Thitikul. Ruoning Yin finished four shots back after hanging in through the final stretch, but the last hole belonged to Thitikul, who finished with the cleanest closing statement of the day. Her final birdie removed any doubt and left the leaderboard settled without a playoff.
The tournament is also designed around player comfort, a point host Michelle Wie West emphasized by offering free rooms, free transportation and player gifts, including $250 gift cards and $1,000 gift cards. The extras do not change the scorecard, but they have become part of the event’s identity and the way it tries to distinguish itself on a crowded calendar.
For Thitikul, the week was about more than one more title. It was proof that her pace has become the story: titles, money and records arriving fast enough to alter the shape of the season. The next milestone may come soon, but Sunday in New Jersey belonged to the 23-year-old who finished strong, took home the biggest check in the field and added another chapter to a career already moving at record speed.
