SHANGHAI, China – The genteel world of women’s golf was plunged into unprecedented turmoil today as the newly concluded Buick LPGA Shanghai 2025 was overshadowed by a scandalous accusation from one of the sport’s biggest stars. Nelly Korda, the former World No. 1, has publicly accused the tournament’s winner, Jeeno Thitikul, of “blatant cheating,” alleging that a critical rules violation was deliberately ignored, costing Korda not only the championship but also her coveted top spot in the Rolex Rankings.
The controversy erupted on the 72nd green at Qizhong Garden Golf Club, a scene that transformed from a tense playoff conclusion to a cauldron of disbelief and anger. Korda and Thitikul, locked in a thrilling final-round duel, had finished regulation play tied at 17-under-par, forcing a sudden-death playoff.
It was on the second playoff hole, the par-4 18th, that the incident occurred. Facing a delicate 12-foot downhill putt for par, Thitikul’s ball trickled agonizingly close to the cup before coming to rest on the very lip. As Thitikul approached the ball, the standard protocol is to allow the player a “reasonable amount of time” to reach the hole, after which they have an additional 10 seconds to see if the ball will fall. Video replay appears to show Thitikul not waiting the full allotted time before tapping in the short putt.
The infraction, while seemingly minor, is clear under Rule 13.3a. If a player fails to wait the required time and the ball subsequently falls into the hole after the player has played it, the player must add a penalty stroke. The ball is deemed to have holed on the previous stroke.
According to Korda and her camp, this is precisely what happened. In a fiery post-tournament press conference, a visibly shaken Korda did not mince words.
“I saw it clear as day. She walked up, didn’t even count to two, and tapped it in,” Korda stated, her voice trembling with a mixture of fury and disappointment. “My caddie and I immediately looked at the rules official in the group, but he gave a slight shake of his head, as if it was fine. It was not fine. That ball was still oscillating. It was a clear violation of Rule 13.3. She should have been assessed a penalty stroke, which would have meant she made bogey. I made par. The tournament should have been mine.”
The victory propelled Thitikul back to the World No. 1 ranking, a position Korda had held for much of the preceding two years. The stakes of the alleged infraction, therefore, could not be higher.
“This isn’t just about a trophy or a winner’s check,” Korda continued. “This is about the integrity of our sport and the sanctity of the World No. 1 ranking. To have it stripped away under these circumstances is a gut punch. I feel my victory, and my ranking, were stolen by a cheater who was not held accountable.”
The LPGA Rules Committee has issued a brief statement, confirming they are “reviewing the footage and statements from all involved parties.” Thitikul, for her part, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
“I would never, ever cheat at this game,” the 22-year-old Thai star said through a translator, though her own press appearance was notably brief. “I believed I waited the appropriate time. The ball was at rest. I am a player of integrity, and I am disappointed by these accusations. I won this tournament fairly.”
The golf world is now starkly divided. Social media is ablaze with analysts and fans dissecting the video frame-by-frame, with opinions split. Some argue Thitikul’s actions were rushed and deserving of a penalty, while others believe the ball had clearly come to rest and the controversy is manufactured sour grapes.
Veteran golf analyst and former player Judy Rankin commented on the broadcast, “This is a nightmare scenario for the LPGA. The ambiguity in the ‘reasonable time’ clause is what makes this so difficult. But the optics are terrible, and for an event of this magnitude to end with this cloud over it is devastating.”
The LPGA now faces a monumental crisis. If their review sides with Korda, they would be forced to overturn the result and strip Thitikul of the title and ranking points, an almost unthinkable action. If they side with Thitikul, they risk alienating one of their most marketable stars and leaving a permanent stain on what was meant to be a celebratory return to Shanghai.
For now, the Buick LPGA Shanghai has a winner, but no one is celebrating. Instead, the sport is left grappling with accusations of cheating, a shattered sense of sportsmanship, and a battle for the soul of its highest honor that is just beginning.
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