Hall eyes more success in Wales at Women's Open
England's Hall is the most recent British winner of the Women's Open having triumphed at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018.
The tournament comes to Wales for the first time this year as Royal Porthcawl plays host to the final golf major of 2025 starting on Thursday.
And for Hall, that means a return to the scene of past successes.
The 29-year-old won the Girls' Amateur Championship in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, in 2012 before going on to collect the Women's Amateur Championship at Machynys Golf Club in Carmarthenshire 12 months later.
"Really I'm a big fan [of Wales]," Hall said.
"I haven't played golf in Wales since those wins, so I think it will be a great test in Porthcawl."
Porthcawl to host Women's Open in 2025
Open to be Wales' 'largest women's sporting event'
The Women's Open is the biggest female sporting event ever staged in Wales, but Royal Porthcawl is no stranger to prestigious competitions.
The south Wales links has staged the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup and, on three occasions, the men's Senior Open.
"I've played a couple of holes out here and it's a very tough course, I think it's definitely underrated," said Bournemouth-born Hall.
"It's learning to know where to hit it. Especially on this golf course there's a lot of blind tee shots, so that will be key."
Hall has won seven professional titles and is a five-time Solheim Cup player.
Currently ranked 119th in the world, she is hoping the Women's Open will inspire the next generation of golfers.
"It would be great to see the young girls supporting and seeing what the world's best women have to offer," she said.
"I love to see a lot of people support, especially the youngsters.
"I'm a massive fan of golf and what it can provide for the kids and people socialising and [helping] to make friends. It's great that people are learning to grow the game as well."
Hall is also an advocate for the promotion of women's sport and wants to see increasing media coverage.
"I think that having this event here and all the other women's sports [this summer] is amazing and hopefully in 10 years' time it will be bigger than it is now," she added.
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Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
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 along the way 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 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). The cut was shaping up to be 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). 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.' ___ AP golf:


New York Times
7 minutes ago
- New York Times
Women's Open 2025: Nelly Korda is still No. 1, with the cheering section to prove it
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Cece and her dad left home 85 miles away in Chippenham, England, at 6 a.m. to ensure they would catch sight of Korda. A nice surprise was her catching sight of them. 'As soon as we got here we walked over to the putting green and Nelly was there,' Joe, 31, says. 'Cece was stood holding her sign and you could see the look in Nelly's eyes, this is why they do what they do.' Beatrice Pearce, an 11-year-old golfer from Leeds who travelled to Spain with her mother Holly to watch Korda in the 2023 Solheim Cup, also has a paper sign. It says 'Go Nelly' and features a Welsh dragon illustration. 'She's really cool and seems like a very down-to-earth person,' says Beatrice, who is hoping to return on Sunday to support Korda again. 'She is nice and normal and isn't a show off.' The crowd that followed Korda in their numbers on Friday are hoping she can pull herself into contention by Sunday. But they will be there either way as she tees off. 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He also stood out for the special green bib he wears, which signals Korda is the highest-ranked golfer on the planet. Her shot up an intimidating hill and onto the green at the sixth signalled her control of her golf swing and her power. Korda dropped the ball just at the back of the pin but was unable to execute the birdie opportunity – an unwanted theme of her week so far. Advertisement 'I didn't really capitalise on anything in the calmer conditions on the front nine,' Korda said. 'Then it got really windy on the back nine. I made a few more mistakes, but bounced back with some birdies. Overall, I'm not going to complain with even-par.' Beatrice was not alone with her 'We're sticking with Nelly' attitude when cheers went up in the distance for a Lottie Woad birdie. And that is what they did for five hours – stuck with her. Korda tried to stay warm by pulling on an extra pair of golf trousers and a Nike gilet. What she really needed was her putter to warm up and it did – kind of. 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Washington Post
8 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda pull away from the field at Women's British Open
PORTHCAWL, Wales — 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 along the way that left the rest of the field far behind.