Arpichaya Yubol's out-of-nowhere career-changing finish

The expectations were kept to a minimum for Arpichaya Yubol headed into Sunday at the U.S. Women's Open. The 22-year-old from Thailand somehow managed to end up in eighth place through 54 holes despite missing six straight cuts going into her debut at the championship. Her third-round two-under 68 was Yubol's first red-figure score since late March at the Ford Championship. No wonder the LPGA sophomore, heading into the final round at Lancaster Counrry Club, was just soaking in making the first major cut of her career.

"I'm so excited for tomorrow," Yubol said. "It is the first in my life, first major I made the cut. I'm sure tomorrow will have good memory for me in my life."

A Sunday one-under 69 for a fifth-place finish made the major more than just a good memory, but the most lucrative week of her LPGA career. The second and third rounds in the 60s of 2024 for the 245th player in the Rolex Rankings helped earn Yubol $456,375, nearly 13 times more than her previous biggest payday of $35,318. Her only made cut came in January when Yubol made $6,019 for a T-49 at the LPGA Drive On.

The week at Lancaster Country Club was the Thai's first top-10 and top-five finish of her career, surpassing her previous best showing of T-13 at last year's Women's Scottish Open.

Yubol found success early in her career when she turned professional at 15 in 2017. In her sophomore campaign on the Thai LPGA, Yubol won five straight events to win the tour's order of merit. That second-year success didn't come as easily when she made it to the LPGA, as she only played the weekend once in seven starts. Yubol's out-of-nowhere performance has transformed her season and career trajectory.

She is now a contender for the CME Tour Championship, from a campaign that was destined to jockey just for a spot in the LPGA's qualifying school. Yubol started the week at 147th in CME points, which the tour uses to determine status for the next season. Those in the top 100 keep quality status for the following year, and Yubol finished in 94th in CME points in 2023. Yubol's career-vaulting performance at the U.S. Women's Open earned her 188.5 points, catapulting her to 70th on the CME points list.

Yubol may look back at the week at Lancaster as not only one of her favorite memories, but also the bedrock of her LPGA career.