World No 1 Jeeno Thitikul will look to back up her win in Thailand last week with a strong performance in Singapore at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
AS the final practice rounds were played at Sentosa Golf Club, the conversation among the world’s best wasn’t just about the condition of the greens or the humidity of Singapore. Instead, the focus has shifted to the most difficult yardage in golf: the 10 inches between the ears.
With 17 of the world’s top 20 players and 16 major winners boasting 25 combined titles, the 2026 HSBC Women’s World Championship is as much a mental marathon as a physical one. For World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and World No. 7 Ruoning Yin, the secret to conquering the acclaimed Tanjong Course lies in a radical shift in internal narrative.
Jeeno Thitikul’s rise was meteoric, reaching the world’s top spot at just 19. However, that early stardom came with a heavy psychological price. Reflecting on her younger self, Thitikul admits she was her own harshest critic.
“All eyes were watching,” Thitikul recalled. “The pressure to perform at that elite level meant I felt every shot had to be perfect.”
Now 23 and fresh off an emotional victory in front of her home crowd in Thailand, Thitikul has traded perfectionism for presence. While she acknowledges that nerves are a permanent fixture of championship Sunday, her strategy is no longer to suppress them, but to embrace them.
“I like to tell myself, this is the time that you need to enjoy it,” she explained. “You need joy with the nervous moments. That’s why I kind of try to dance in the rain.”
Ruoning Yin, the 2023 Women’s PGA Champion, mirrors Thitikul’s journey. Having reached World No. 1 within three years of turning professional, Yin struggled with the weight of expectation and a “negative” reaction to failure.
Heading into 2026, Yin has undergone a mental overhaul. Rather than ruminating on a missed putt, she now treats “bad” shots as data points for improvement.
“I was like Jeeno, I was so negative when I hit a bad shot when I was younger,” Yin admitted. “But right now, it’s just, how can I learn from it? How can I avoid the same mistake next time?”
For Yin, the transition from an “immature” mindset to living in the moment has been the key to unlocking her 2026 form, which already includes two top-20 finishes this season.
The battleground for this mental duel is the Tanjong Course, hosting the event for the 12th time. Renowned for its leadership in sustainability, Sentosa offers a world-class test that demands strategic discipline. With four past champions and seven former World No. 1s in the field, the 72-hole stroke play championship will be decided by who can remain grounded when the Singapore heat and the leaderboard pressure begins to rise.
As these young stars have proven, the trophy won’t just go to the best ball-striker, but to the player who wins the 10-inch war within.
The post Mastering the “10-inch game” – Elite minds converge at Sentosa first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia's Most-Read Golf Magazine as named by Australian Golfers - FREE.
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