Golf: Yamashita wins Women's British Open for 1st LPGA major

Kyodo News

11 hours ago

PORTHCAWL, Wales - Japan's Miyu Yamashita won the Women's British Open on Sunday, claiming her maiden U.S. LPGA Tour victory at the fifth and final major of the year.
The tour rookie, who turned 24 on Saturday, is the second Japanese winner of the tournament, following Hinako Shibuno in 2019, while she is the sixth from the country to win a women's major.
Yamashita won by two shots over compatriot Minami Katsu and England's Charley Hull after carding a 2-under 70 for an 11-under total of 277 at the par-72 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales.
Japan's Rio Takeda and South Korea's A Lim Kim tied for fourth at 7 under for the tournament, while Mao Saigo, winner of this year's first major, the Chevron Championship in April, tied for 11th at 3 under.
"I'm so happy to have been able to achieve my goal of winning a major tournament," Yamashita said. "It's been a long journey. So many people have supported me. All the hard work I've put in has paid off."
Yamashita headed into the final day with a one-stroke lead over Kim, having come back to the field after carding a 2-over 74 in the penultimate round.
She got off to a steady start with three straight pars before her first birdie on the fourth hole. She carded back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth holes, opening a commanding three-stroke lead over Hull with nine holes to play.
After her only bogey on the 17th, Yamashita made par on the final hole to become the fourth Japanese golfer to win an LPGA major title over the last two seasons, joining Saigo, Ayaka Furue, and Yuka Saso.
"I was nervous, but I was able to maintain confidence in my play," Yamashita said. "That translated into my performance. I was able to play well."
Osaka Prefecture native Yamashita, known for her accuracy, in 2022 became the youngest to top the Japan Ladies Professional Golfers' Association Tour point rankings aged 21, and did it again in 2023.