Charley Hull didn’t even see Atthaya Thitikul’s decisive birdie putt on the final hole of the Kroger City Queen Championship. She, like everyone else, thought Thitikul would easily hole out and win the championship.
Thitikul was the LPGA’s best putter, and the world’s No. 1. But in an unlikely scenario, she bogeyed four putts on the 72nd hole, three of which came from just 3 feet. Hull, who was playing in the same group and had led the round, stood there, unable to believe what had just happened. She pulled herself together and sank a 2-foot putt for her first win in 1,077 days.
It was a rare collapse from Thitikul, creating a dramatic finish at TPC River’s Bend.
Hull said, “Jeeno played really well today, very consistent. It was unfortunate that it happened on the last hole. I just felt like I’ve been a little unlucky the last few years, and today it finally came to me.”
Thitikul had won one tournament this season and looked set to become the first golfer to win more than one tournament this year. She and Hull were locked in a tight duel until things fell apart on the 18th hole. Thitikul declined to be interviewed after the match.
Charley Hull wins the 2025 Kroger City Queen Championship.
Hull closed with a final round of 68, a total of -20 after 4 days (68-65-67-68), receiving a prize of 300,000 USD and an important mental boost. This is her 3rd LPGA victory in her career, and her 3rd top 10 this season. The last time Hull won was Ascendant LPGA on October 2, 2022.
Hull led through 54 holes in the final round but was one shot behind Thitikul on the 14th. Hull equalized with a long putt on the 16th, then bogeyed the 17th after hitting a bunker shot to give Thitikul the lead. Going into the 18th, all the world No. 1 had to do was make a short putt to win, or two to tie, but she missed both. Television footage showed Thitikul admitting she was nervous about those three short putts.
“I thought I needed an eagle on 18,” Hull recalled. “I hit my driver a little off, then hit a 9-iron around the tree but didn’t have enough spin. I thought I needed to putt it in, but I only needed two putts. I don’t really remember the last hole, I was just surprised and my hands were shaking with excitement.”
Atthaya Thitikul (right) collapsed at the Kroger City Queen Championship.
Lottie Woad, former world amateur No. 1 and Scottish Open champion, finished third, two strokes behind Hull. Nelly Korda, former world No. 1, still without a win this year, tied for fifth.
Hull has endured an injury-plagued season: tearing ankle ligaments in a fall in a car park, injuring her back while lifting, then collapsing with a virus at the Amundi Evian Championship. She is currently dealing with a cyst in her back.
“The last few months have been really tough,” Hull said. “Fainting at Evian, hurting my back, tearing my ankle ligaments… it all sounds like a bunch of accidents. But I think sometimes pain makes you stronger. I was training too much, thinking too much, and the injury forced me to take a break – which I probably needed.”
Asked if she plays better when injured, Hull laughed: “It slows my mind down. Normally my mind is running 100 miles an hour, but when I’m sick or injured I relax, expect less and do less. And then I play better.”
