Women's Open Golf 2025: Japan's Miyu Yamashita, Rio Takeda pull away from the field after Round 2
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. Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit,' Woad said.
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.
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.
Yamashita, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Saturday, was at 11-under 133.
ALSO READ | DP World India Championship 2025 to be India's best golf event, says Delhi Golf Club president Raj Khosla
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.
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.
Related Topics
Women's Open
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
IND vs ENG 5th Test Live Updates Day 4: Judgement Day arrives for Shubman Gill's young Indian team at the Oval
India vs England 5th Test Live Updates Day 4: IND vs ENG: On the 24th day of Test cricket in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, we may finally be approaching the home stretch, and the conclusion of a sensational and tensely-fought Test series. Day 4 of the fifth Test at the Oval, and we are into the fourth innings with the battle lines clear as can be: India need to pick up nine more wickets, and England need to score 324 More It is a simple equation, and India might be favourites, but England have made a good habit of chasing down these tall scores against the Indian team. The benefit for the Indian seam unit is that on this occasion the pitch has plenty of support for them, with a green top and relatively overcast skies. None of the flatness and heat that allowed England to waltz home at Headingley in the first match of this series, or at Edgbaston three years ago. England lost their first wicket on what was the last ball of the third day, as Mohammed Siraj bluffed Zak Crawley and delivered a perfect yorker to obliterate his off-stump. It was the wicket of a man who has found confidence after his first innings exploits, happy to lead India's pace bowling in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. It was also a tactical setup of a man who has learned so much in the first series of his captaincy, with Shubman Gill getting into Crawley's head and allowing his bowler to provide the magic to the plan. If India can find that mixture just a couple more times to remove England's biggest threats — Ben Duckett still at the crease, Joe Root and Harry Brook to come — they will like their chances of converting their advantage. Nevertheless, they will need to be wary: if the pitch begins to flatten out and the English batters get the chance to open up their arms, they have the quality and the mindset to quickly take the match away from the visitors. Shubman Gill has enough weapons in his toolbox to take this Test match and level the series at a very respectable 2-2, in his first tour as captain. It will require India to be clinical and on top of their game, to ensure they hang on to their catches, use their reviews well, and not give the English batters too many bad balls through which to relieve pressure. It has all the makings of a terrific fourth day, a decisive end to the series where the result hangs in the balance, as this series deserves. Who will be capable of holding their nerves the best?
News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
'The Sort Of Bloke A Skipper Loves': Nasser Hussain Likens Indian Pacer To Darren Gough
Hussain lauded India pacer Siraj's intent, aggression and his penchant for turning up when called upon to serve his side time and again throughout the series. England require 324 runs to win the fifth and final Test of the series against India at the Oval with two days of the longest format of the game left to play in the fixture. With India trailing the series 1-2, it is imperative for the touring side to finish with a flurry i they are to level the series, and hence the role of the Indian bowling unit will be on full display towards the twilight of the match. Former England skipper Nasser Hussain lauded India pacer Mohammed Siraj's intent, aggression and turning up when called upon to serve his side time and again throughout the series. 'With Chris Woakes going down injured for England, Siraj is the only fast bowler who has lasted the course of the series and put in spell after spell," the 57-year-old began. 'He is the sort of bloke a captain absolutely loves. He lifts the team. I always talk about Darren Gough being that sort of person when I was England captain, and Siraj is that man for India," the former English international added. Hussain also credited the visiting side's grit and determination during the course of the series in English territory as India look to claw their way back in the final hours of the campaign. India surrendered the opening Test at Headingley before pegging the hosts back on level terms in the second game of the series with a historic win at Edgbaston. However, the hosts pulled ahead yet again in the third Test at Lord's before the sides played out a draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. 'I have been hugely impressed with the character and fight they have shown throughout this series," he said. 'Some people thought they might roll over after the way they lost at Headingley, but they have since shown what a tough side they are to beat," he added. 'They have won as many sessions as England, if not more. They have just been found wanting in some of the crucial moments," Hussain elucidated. 'It is especially impressive when you consider they lost legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli right before the series," Hussain said. Siraj has led the Indian pace attack with Bumrah not always available throughout the series and the seamer has withstood the test of the grueling English campaign. 'I don't think about breaking down. I only think about the match. I love playing for the country and I want to give everything to the country. I keep my plans simple and try to give my everything, and results do follow," Siraj told Dinesh Karthik during an interview for Sky Sports. 'To be honest, I love responsibility, but I also miss Jassi bhai because he is a senior bowler and leads by example in terms of what lines and lengths to bowl to various batsmen. I like that," the 31-year-old said. 'When Jassi bhai isn't around, you get that confidence that you need to shoulder extra responsibility, and I enjoy that. I don't take extra pressure and try to keep things simple," the pacer concluded. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
"It's Obviously Frustrating": Josh Tongue On Akash Deep's Blistering Half-Century
England pacer Josh Tongue admitted to feeling the heat after Indian tail-ender Akash Deep produced a spirited innings, frustrating the English bowlers on Day 3 of the final Test at The Oval. Coming in as a nightwatchman late on Day 2, Akash Deep defied expectations and went on to score a gritty 66 off 94 balls on Day 3 of the Test match, the knock included 12 boundaries. His fearless approach and ability to stick around gave India vital runs at a crucial stage of the match. With his first fifty in the longest format, he became just the fourth Indian to score a Test fifty at No.4 in England in this century, joining the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Indian skipper Shubman Gill. "Yeah, it's obviously frustrating," Tongue said at the post-day press conference. "It's happened to me many a times where we just sort of said as a bowling unit, just bowl your best ball for as long as you can and hopefully either nick one or you bowled him," he added. With his maiden Test fifty, Akash Deep joins an elite list along, Hugh Trumble, Shane Warne, Imran Khan, Keith Miller and Richard Hadlee to become the 12th player with a ten-fer during a match and a fifty on an England tour. Deep, with a first-class average of 11.48 before the Oval Test, is just the fourth Indian to score a men's Test fifty at No.4 in England this century, joining Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. Deep mesmerised one and all with a ten-wicket haul in a critic-silencing, era-defining win over England at Edgbaston by 336 runs, their first-ever Test win at the venue last month. During the Test match, Akash set a massive record, delivering India's best spell ever in England. The pacer etched his name in the record books by registering the best bowling figures in a match for India in England, surpassing the long-standing record held by Chetan Sharma. Deep's match figures of 10/187 edged past Sharma's 10/188. Deep is also the first Indian nightwatchman to score 50-plus runs since Amit Mishra (84 runs) against the same opponent at the same venue back in 2011. The duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Akash Deep added 107 runs for the third wicket on Day 3 in the series decider. This partnership was the 18th 100-run stand in this ongoing England tour, the most in a Test series in this century (since 2000), surpassing 17 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2003-04. The partnership between Jaiswal-Deep was a turning point in India's second innings as they lost KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan for low scores on Day 2. Akash Deep's knock boosted India's total to 396 and proved that each run has value in a high-stakes Test match. For England, it served as a reminder that in red-ball cricket, the job is never truly done until the last man is out.
