Golf pro Jean Thitikul adopts a distinct method, employing color-coded grips on her golf clubs, a tactic intended to aid her in swiftly identifying and grasping the correct club during high-pressure games.
Sporting a Unique Twist:
Unlike most golfers, World No.2, Jeeno Thitikul, boasts an unconventional lineup of golf clubs. Her father, Montree, revealed the quirky reason behind the color-coded grips - to make it easier for him to spot which club she's using on TV.
Starting from her 4-iron down to her 58-degree wedge, each club flaunts a distinct color grip. For instance, her 4-iron is vibrant green, her 5-iron black, her 6-iron white, and her 7, 8, and 9-irons flaunt colors like orange, yellow, and light pink, respectively. The wedges sport subtle yet discernible colors, such as a regular blue for the pitching wedge, a dark blue for the 48-degree, a light blue for the 52-degree, and a Barbie pink for the 58-degree. Her driver, woods, and putter primarily feature dark grips.
This playful and personalized touch isn't just for aesthetic purposes - it also serves as a handy guideline for Montree, who has been instrumental in Jeeno's golf journey since she was just six years old. Offered a choice between golf and tennis by her parents, Jeeno picked golf after watching videos online, a decision she's never regretted.
Since then, Jeeno has been triumphing on the course, amassing a total of 18 pro wins. After wrapping up a four-under 68 during round one of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East, Jeeno explained that she's been using the color-coded grips since she was around 9 to 10 years old. Over the years, she's switched up the colors on various clubs depending on the manufacturer's stock, but her current setup has been in use for about two or three years now.
Interestingly, despite all the talk about her irons and wedges during round one, it was her putter that truly stood out. Her exceptional putting skills earned her a whopping 6.9 strokes over the field, thanks to 199.5 feet of putts, including a stunning 60-foot bomb on the par-3 eighth hole.
Currently leading by one, Jeeno will head into round two aiming to protect her position. Close on her heels are Minjee Lee, Haeran Ryu, Rio Takeda, Somi Lee, and Yealimi Noh, all posting a two-under 70 in Thursday's round.
- Jeeno Thitikul's unique golf clubs, each with a distinct color grip, are a blend of sports and sports-analysis, as they not only add an aesthetic touch but also serve as a helpful guideline for her father, who has been instrumental in her golf journey.
- During the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, Jeeno's color-coded golf clubs, while attracting attention towards her irons and wedges, were outshone by her putter, which showcased her exceptional putting skills, contributing significantly to her lead over the field, demonstrating the crucial role of sports-analysis in her golf performance.
