eeno Thitikul fired a bogey-free 64 at the Amundi Evian Championship, charging into contention and reigniting her pursuit of a first major title.
Jeeno Thitikul looked like a long shot after Thursday. By Friday afternoon, she looked like a major champion waiting to happen.
The world’s No. 2-ranked player exploded with a bogey-free, 7-under 64 in the second round of the Amundi Evian Championship, launching herself into the top 10 and within striking distance of leader Lottie Woad entering the weekend in France.
It was the kind of response elite players are supposed to deliver.
Thitikul opened the tournament with a frustrating 1-over 72, mixing three birdies with four bogeys. It marked the third time in four starts that she had begun an event above par.
Instead of letting another slow opening bury her, the 23-year-old completely flipped the script at Evian Resort Golf Club.
“I definitely hit better than yesterday,” Thitikul said. “I hit more fairways, I hit more greens.”
That improved ball-striking created chances, and Jeeno eventually punished the course.
She birdied the 10th to return to even par, added another at the par-5 15th and closed her opening nine with a birdie at 18. Another gain at the first moved her to 3-under for the championship before five straight pars temporarily slowed the charge.
Then came the knockout punch.
Thitikul drained a lengthy eagle putt at the par-5 seventh and followed it with a closing birdie at No. 9.
Her 64 was the second-lowest round recorded through the first two days and pushed her firmly into another major championship fight.
The surge shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with Thitikul’s history at Evian. She has four top-10 finishes in six previous appearances at the course, including a runner-up result in 2025 after losing a playoff to Grace Kim.
Both players finished regulation at 14-under.
While Evian’s uneven lies, steep terrain and firm greens can drive players insane, Thitikul embraces the challenge.
“I love the course, how it looks,” she said, adding that its slopes create opportunities to shape shots and use the ground creatively.
Thitikul has already won twice in 2026, capturing the Honda LPGA Thailand and successfully defending her Mizuho Americas Open title.
She also owns three additional top-10 finishes, including a tie for eighth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The missing piece remains obvious: a major.
Thitikul has nine LPGA Tour victories and enough talent to dominate almost anywhere. But the label of “best player without a major” keeps following her.
After Friday’s statement round, she has another chance to finally destroy it.
