Miyu Yamashita rides stellar 65 into Women's British Open lead
Yamashita held third place after the first round at Royal Porthcawl and took control Friday with a bogey-free, seven-birdie round. She hit 13 of 14 fairways in regulation and had four of her birdies in a five-hole stretch from Nos. 9-13.
"Today was good overall, and my tee shots were very consistent, so I was able to hit from the fairway," Yamashita said. "I played really consistent golf today."
Yamashita is halfway home at 11-under 133, and her closest pursuer is countrywoman Rio Takeda — one of the first-round co-leaders — whose 69 brought her to 8 under par for the week. After them, no player is better than 4 under.
The four-way tie at 4 under features Lindy Duncan (who shot a 70 on Friday), Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck (71), Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand (69) and Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland (69).
None of the top six players on the leaderboard have won a major, so the door appears wide open for Yamashita, a 23-year-old whose 13 professional wins have all come on the Japanese tour.
"I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now," Yamashita said of the tournament to date. "I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind. So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out."
Takeda, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, eagled the par-5 ninth hole Friday after making a double bogey there Thursday.
"My shots were a little crooked today, but I was playing, hoping I could correct that early," Takeda said. "The eagle putt was close, so I'm glad I was able to get an eagle. I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow."
English phenom Lottie Woad was having an impressive day through 15 holes before disaster struck on the par-4 16th. She lost her second shot in thick rough, and she couldn't advance it on her third stroke before opting to take an unplayable lie penalty.
Woad was 5 under for her round and the tournament up until that hole, but the resultant triple bogey sent her backward. She finished with a 70 and sits at 2 under.
"I think it's probably the toughest hole on the course," Woad said. "The tee shot is hard to hit the fairway, and then you've got 3-wood into a very strong wind. Anything that's missing the target is going to be exaggerated. So (I) pushed it and got a pretty unlucky lie."
Woad, 21, won the Women's Irish Open by six shots last month as an amateur, then turned pro and won last week's Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut.
Also part of a large tie at 2 under are World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Darcey Harry of Wales, each of whom shot an even-par 72. Harry is a member at Royal Porthcawl and is dealing with the nerves of performing for her home nation. She had five birdies on her card Friday, but one bogey and two doubles as well.
"I think I keep forgetting that this is actually my home course and I've played it before," Harry said. "I have to keep reminding myself I know the course, so I don't know why I'm stressing. Yeah, and just enjoy the atmosphere."
At least Harry can say she has made the cut and has a faint chance on the weekend. Notable names to miss the cut of 2 over par included Allisen Corpuz (3 over), Canada's Brooke M. Henderson (3 over), Rose Zhang (4 over), Jennifer Kupcho (6 over), Lilia Vu (7 over) and South Korea's Jin Young Ko (7 over).
Japan's Eri Okayama, who shared the lead with Takeda after Thursday's opening round, followed a 67 with a 9-over 81 and missed the cut by two shots. Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand made the cut on the number.
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Japan Times
19 hours ago
- Japan Times
Miyu Yamashita rides stellar 65 into Women's British Open lead
Miyu Yamashita shot the round of the week so far, a 7-under-par 65, to jump out to a three-stroke lead at the Women's British Open on Friday in Porthcawl, Wales. Yamashita held third place after the first round at Royal Porthcawl and took control Friday with a bogey-free, seven-birdie round. She hit 13 of 14 fairways in regulation and had four of her birdies in a five-hole stretch from Nos. 9-13. "Today was good overall, and my tee shots were very consistent, so I was able to hit from the fairway," Yamashita said. "I played really consistent golf today." Yamashita is halfway home at 11-under 133, and her closest pursuer is countrywoman Rio Takeda — one of the first-round co-leaders — whose 69 brought her to 8 under par for the week. After them, no player is better than 4 under. The four-way tie at 4 under features Lindy Duncan (who shot a 70 on Friday), Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck (71), Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand (69) and Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland (69). None of the top six players on the leaderboard have won a major, so the door appears wide open for Yamashita, a 23-year-old whose 13 professional wins have all come on the Japanese tour. "I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now," Yamashita said of the tournament to date. "I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind. So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out." Takeda, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, eagled the par-5 ninth hole Friday after making a double bogey there Thursday. "My shots were a little crooked today, but I was playing, hoping I could correct that early," Takeda said. "The eagle putt was close, so I'm glad I was able to get an eagle. I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow." English phenom Lottie Woad was having an impressive day through 15 holes before disaster struck on the par-4 16th. She lost her second shot in thick rough, and she couldn't advance it on her third stroke before opting to take an unplayable lie penalty. Woad was 5 under for her round and the tournament up until that hole, but the resultant triple bogey sent her backward. She finished with a 70 and sits at 2 under. "I think it's probably the toughest hole on the course," Woad said. "The tee shot is hard to hit the fairway, and then you've got 3-wood into a very strong wind. Anything that's missing the target is going to be exaggerated. So (I) pushed it and got a pretty unlucky lie." Woad, 21, won the Women's Irish Open by six shots last month as an amateur, then turned pro and won last week's Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut. Also part of a large tie at 2 under are World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Darcey Harry of Wales, each of whom shot an even-par 72. Harry is a member at Royal Porthcawl and is dealing with the nerves of performing for her home nation. She had five birdies on her card Friday, but one bogey and two doubles as well. "I think I keep forgetting that this is actually my home course and I've played it before," Harry said. "I have to keep reminding myself I know the course, so I don't know why I'm stressing. Yeah, and just enjoy the atmosphere." At least Harry can say she has made the cut and has a faint chance on the weekend. Notable names to miss the cut of 2 over par included Allisen Corpuz (3 over), Canada's Brooke M. Henderson (3 over), Rose Zhang (4 over), Jennifer Kupcho (6 over), Lilia Vu (7 over) and South Korea's Jin Young Ko (7 over). Japan's Eri Okayama, who shared the lead with Takeda after Thursday's opening round, followed a 67 with a 9-over 81 and missed the cut by two shots. Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand made the cut on the number.
Japan Times
19 hours ago
- Japan Times
Son Heung-min to leave Tottenham this summer after decade with Spurs
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The Mainichi
21 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda pull away from the field at Women's British Open
PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) -- Miyu Yamashita started and finished with short birdie putts and was flawless in between as she posted a 7-under 65 on Friday to build a three-shot lead over Rio Takeda going into the weekend of the Women's British Open. The Japanese players, both among the top 15 in the women's world ranking, played in the same group at Royal Porthcawl and put on a show in the second round, matching great shots and big putts that left the rest of the field far behind. Takeda was the only player within seven shots of Yamashita. Nelly Korda (72) and rising English star Lottie Woad (70) were among the top 10 on the leaderboard and still nine shots behind at the halfway point. Woad was on the cusp of contention until a triple bogey on the par-4 16th. "There was a lot more good in it than bad," Woad said. "Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit." Yamashita was bogey-free and did most of her damage with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn as she took advantage of an early start before stronger wind arrived. "I didn't make any particular adjustments to my swing, but the wind was strong, so I think shots are important, as well as club selection and the direction I aim at the target," Yamashita said. "So things like that are important, so I played while keeping in mind the image I've been practicing so far." Takeda, whose two LPGA Tour titles include the Toto Japan Classic last year before she was a member, was slowed by a pair of bogeys. Takeda atoned for that with a superb approach into the par-5 ninth that settled within tap-in range for eagle. She shot 69. "I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow," Takeda said. Yamashita, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Saturday, was at 11-under 133. Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland and Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand each shot 69 and were tied for third at 4-under 140, along with American Lindy Duncan (70) and Laura Fuenfstueck of Germany, who had a 71. The cut was at 2-over 146. Brooke Henderson of Canada was right on the cut line until missing a 4-foot par putt on the windblown 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole. Also missing the cut were world No. 4 Ruoning Yin (77), Rose Zhang (76) and U.S. Women's Open champion Maja Stark (78). Yani Tseng of Taiwan, a two-time Women's British Open champion and former No. 1 player in the world, shot 73 and made the cut in a major for the first time in eight years. It was her first made cut in an LPGA event since the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship in 2018. Korda remains the No. 1 player in women's golf despite not winning this year, and she now faces a tall order with a nine-shot deficit for the last 36 holes. "Honestly didn't really capitalize on anything in the calmer conditions on the front nine, then kind of got really windy on the back," Korda said. "Made a few more mistakes but bounced back with some birdies. Overall, I'm not going to complain with even par." Woad made the best run at the Japanese duo until one swing and one nasty lie cost her. She had a 3-wood for her second shot into a strong wind on the par-4 16th. It sailed to the right into thick grass. Her first hack moved the golf ball only a few inches. She had to take a penalty shot for an unplayable lie, got that one on the green and two-putted for a triple bogey. She closed with two pars for a 70, a score that otherwise would seem satisfactory. "I'd certainly take it now, but not when I was standing on the 16th tee," Woad said with a smile. "Yeah, just got to try to play well over the weekend. It's pretty packed, so I can move up a bit." Everyone is chasing Yamashita, who led the Japan LPGA money list in 2022 and 2023 while winning five times in each of those seasons. She also finished one shot out of a playoff for the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics last year. For now, she is thinking only about keeping her rhythm in the wind. "I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now. I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind," Yamashita said. "So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out."
