NAPLES, Fla. -- Jeeno Thitikul putted for birdie on every hole Friday in a performance worthy of the No. 1 player in women's golf, giving her a 9-under 63 for a three-shot lead in the CME Group Tour Championship as the Thai star closes in on another $4 million payoff and LPGA player of the year.

Nelly Korda , whom Thitikul replaced atop the world ranking earlier this year, saw enough putts drop for a 64 that put her atop the leaderboard about the time Thitikul was starting.

She wound up five shots behind, at least in the mix to win for the first time this year.

Thitikul made it hard on everyone, running off four straight birdies around the turn and six birdies in an eight hole stretch. She played alongside Sei Young Kim , who did her best to keep pace and made six birdies on the back

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