Top-ranked Atthaya bags LPGA Rookie of Year award

MIAMI: Atthaya Thitikul, the Thai teenager who climbed to the top of the world rankings in October, has clinched the LPGA Rookie of the Year award, the tour said Thursday.

Atthaya, who has two victories so far this season at the JTBC Classic and the NW Arkansas Championship, was assured of the award after her nearest rival, South Korean Choi Hye-jin, withdrew from this week’s Pelican Women’s Championship — which has been shortened to 54 holes because of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Nicole.