Ariya Jutanugarn Claims CME Group Championship
Ariya Jutanugarn wins 2016 Race to CME Group Championship (Sam Greenwood / Getty Images)
On Sunday, Ariya Jutanugarn completed her breakout season by earning the LPGA player of the year award, the money title and the CME Group Tour Championship, which comes with a $1 million bonus. That's one heck of a way to end a season.
Jutanugarn’s five tournament wins this year were a career best for the young star, who turns 21 today. However, the journey wasn’t easy, Ariya struggled at the beginning of the season.
“I never expected like that much,” Jutanugarn said. “I just really wanted to win my first tournament this year.”
In May, Jutanugarn held off Lydia Ko in three consecutive tournaments to turn her season around. The pivotal moment came in the Rio Olympics, where in August after three rounds Jutanugarn withdrew from the competition due to a left knee injury. "Very disappointed, because it's Olympics, and I tell my caddie, I want to finish ... four days," Jutanugarn said. "I don't care how many over I'm going to be, but I'm thinking about my career."
This move might have saved her season, allowing Jutanugarn get healthy and compete in the LPGA Asia Swing where she remained ahead of Ko heading into the final tournament of the year.
Jutanugarn finished three strokes better than Ko in the Championship tournament and claimed the CME Group Tour Championship by almost 2000 points.
"It feels great. It's really been an amazing year." Said Jutanugarn.
