Charley Hull charges into Women's Open contention at Royal Porthcawl
Japan's Yamashita, who led by three shots overnight after a bogey-free 65 on Friday, carded a two-over 74 and saw her lead cut to one shot after South Korea's Kim A-lim posted a five-under 67 to climb into outright second.
Charley charges into contention.
Currently tied third on the leaderboard 👀 pic.twitter.com/iuhozhKnJF
— AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 2, 2025
American Andrea Lee also shot a 67 and sits third, while Japan's Minami Katsu sank seven birdies and an eagle for a brilliant 65 – spoilt by two birdies – to climb alongside Hull, American Megan Khang (68) and Rio Takeda (74).
When world number 20 Hull was asked if she would go for victory on Sunday, she told the media: 'Yeah, 100 per cent. I've got nothing to lose have I?
'I hit it in the bunker on the first and made a good up and down there. Then I just made birdies when I gave myself an opportunity to make a birdie, apart from the last hole.
'I just kind of enjoy chasing. It's quite fun. I like it. It's more fun that way. I like hunting someone down.'
England's Georgia Hall, Open winner in 2018, also climbed up the leaderboard, a four-under 68 leaving her tied in eighth place with Taiwan's Hsu Wei-ling (69) and Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini (72).
Lottie Woad, in just her second event as a professional after winning the Scottish Open last week, is a shot further back on three under after shooting a 71.
The pre-tournament favourite from Surrey, who birdied the final hole after squandering several other chances, is among a group of seven tied in 11th after her one-under round alongside England's Mimi Rhodes (70).
World number one Nelly Korda finished two over for the day after a 74 and sits in a group tied in 36th place, which includes New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko (70).
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The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Miyu Yamashita wins AIG Women's Open at Porthcawl
For Yamashita, it was a case of yoku dekimashita. In Japanese, that basically means, 'well done' and the job was a good 'un for the calm, composed 24-year-old as she triumphed at Royal Porthcawl in the final women's major of the 2025 campaign. Charley Hull, one of the poster girls for women's golf in the UK, had raised hopes of earning a celebratory Downing Street reception that was lavished on the triumphant footballing Lionesses last week with a spirited weekend push. Sir Keir Starmer could put the bubbly, sausage rolls, vol-au-vents and quiche back in the fridge, though, as Yamashita staved off the chasing pack to become the fourth Japanese women's major winner in the last couple of years and the second this season. The girls from the Land of the Rising Sun are on, well, the rise. Six years after the wonderful win of the 'Smiling Cinderella', Hinako Shibuno in this championship, Yamashita had a ball too. The popping of champagne corks and subsequent dousing she received from her compatriots on the 18th green was richly deserved. Yamashita closed with a two-under 70 for an 11-under aggregate and a two-shot win over Hull and another Japanese talent, Minami Katsu. Hull, who was stretchered off the course at the last major, the Evian Championship, with a virus, performed admirably. It was her fourth runners-ups finish in a major championship. She keeps chapping on the door. Yamashita had her 24th birthday on Saturday and her messy 74 during the third round probably led to the postponement of any cake as her halfway lead evaporated. She spent much of the evening at the driving range and got herself back on the straight and narrow for the final day. Yamashita dropped just one shot in a pressure-packed closing round while her par-saves on 13 and 14 were huge in the final analysis. 'This has been a goal of mine, something I've worked towards my whole life, a dream you could say,' she said. 'It's been the result of hard work every single day, making changes, making improvements, and to be able to do it now and call myself a champion is a very special thing.' Hull, 11 shots off the lead after 36-holes, put in a swashbuckling effort but back-to-back bogeys at 16 and 17 killed off any hope as Yamashita stayed strong at the summit. 'Coming into this week I didn't think I was going to make the cut,' Hull said of the lingering effects of her illness. 'That's the truth of it. I wasn't hitting it very well. I couldn't prepare as well as I wanted to because I was poorly. "I obviously collapsed three times at the Evian and then I still wasn't feeling well until Sunday last week. So, I think I did pretty well and considering my mindset coming into it. I'm pretty proud of myself. It was a lively day on the south Wales coast and the early starters were confronted by some fairly desperate conditions. Paula Martin Sampedro, a brilliant winner of the Women's Amateur Championship at Nairn back in June, was out in some of the worst of it but the Spanish amateur weathered the storm and signed off with a fine four-under 68. Her card included five birdies in a row from the 11th as the elements began to improve and she eventually finished in a share of eighth and took home the Smyth Salver as the leading player from the unpaid ranks. Sampedro finished alongside Lottie Woad, who was the top amateur a year ago at St Andrews and has made a barnstorming start to life as a pro. Keep an eye on Sampedro's progress. 'I couldn't imagine a better ending of my AIG Women's Open with a birdie on the last,' Sampedro beamed. 'Truly a dream come true.' It was a special day too for England's Mimi Rhodes, who made an extraordinary hole-in-one on the fifth en route to a share of 19th. Her playing partner, Steph Kyriacou, who had an ace of her own on the eighth in round two, knocked her tee-shot to within inches of the hole before Rhodes stepped up. With a little, snooker-style kiss the would've earned a gentle ripple of applause at the Crucible, her ball went in off Kyriacou's stationary one. 'I wasn't expecting it to go in, so I just picked up my tee and I heard everyone going crazy so I knew something had happened,' said Rhodes. 'Then we just walked up to the green and it was in the hole. Unbelievable.' Yamashita probably felt something similar as she savoured her silver lining.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Charley Hull delivers best major performance but plays bridesmaid to Miyu Yamashita
For the second time in three years, Charley Hull had to face up to the agony of finishing second at the Women's Open after she was denied by the inspired Miyu Yamashita. Yet credit to the Englishwoman for her remarkable recovery from a virus that saw her faint on the course three times in France last month and struggle to make it here feeling anywhere near 100 per cent. As bouncebacks go, this was so almost the stuff of legend as the 29-year-old shrugged off losing almost a stone in weight and 10 per cent in swing speed. 'Listen, coming into this week I didn't think I was going to make the cut,' Hull said, after a 69 left her on nine-under and two shots short. 'That's the truth of it. I wasn't hitting it very well and I couldn't prepare as well as I wanted to because I was feeling so poorly. 'I obviously collapsed three times at the last major [three weeks previously in Evian-les-Bains] and still wasn't feeling well when I got here on Sunday. So I think I've done well, and considering my mindset coming into it, I'm pretty proud of myself.' As she should be. Naturally, there will be hurt, because this was her fourth runner-up finish in the majors and she is understandably fed up with being the bridesmaid. But when Hull reflects, she may well look on this as her best major to date. Certainly, Hull should take so much from this, not least the gratitude from the South Wales links for giving it the gripping contest it craved as Royal Porthcawl hosted its biggest-ever event. What a finale this was, as heavy early drizzle gave way to glorious sunshine, the winds gusted and the protagonists rose to the challenge. On any other day, against any other rival, Hull would probably have prevailed and lifted her first major title. But as Hull tore into the three-shot overnight deficit and the crowd responded to the home heroics, Yamashita, the world No 15 who turned 24 on Saturday, simply refused to move aside. The Japanese player's only bogey was on the 17th when the trophy was all but secured and in tension such as this – and, indeed, in conditions such as this – this 70 signified a performance of the very highest quality. Yes, Yamashita was on the better side of the draw – the compiled scores of the later-early starters were almost two shots lower than the other half in the opening rounds – but nobody could deny that the winner was worthy. The guts she displayed with the marauding Hull in pursuit was summed up on the 13th when she holed a 15-footer for a par. That came a few minutes after Hull had converted from a similar distance on the 14th and at that stage it appeared that the favourite of the galleries was about to draw level. 'I had goosebumps,' Hull said. HERE WE GO! Charley Hull is closing the gap again! 💪 — Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) August 3, 2025 Again with good reason. History was beckoning. Nobody in the female majors had come back and triumphed after being 11 shots behind at halfway. From there, Hull simply went for everything and so nearly pulled it off. Back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and 17th eventually did for her challenge, but how the locals took this gallant competitor to their hearts. She may have been caught by Yamashita's compatriot Minami Katsu, but there was only one gallant swashbuckler out there making a fight of it. 'I feel like I'm kind of insane sometimes,' Hull said. 'I can hit wayward shots, but I can get up-and-down and stuff, so it's cool. I didn't look at the leaderboards once today and didn't even know where I was walking down the last. I was chasing and wanted to stay in that mindset. It didn't come off but to shoot a low score in today's weather was great anyway, but to do it under that pressure, I think that was really good from both of us.' Hull moves up towards the world's top 10 and, for now, has consolidated her standing as British No 1. Lottie Woad was the pre-tournament favourite, despite this being her first major as a professional, and although the 21-year-old from Surrey did not quite live up to that ridiculous hype, she underlined her maturity and excellence with a tie for eighth on four-under after a 71.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Relive Yamashita's victory at Women's Open
Update: Date: 19:16 BST Title: Watch highlights later... Content: AIG Women's Open 2025 BBC Two That's just about your lot from today as Miyu Yamashita of Japan was crowned Women's Open champion. The wait for England's Charley Hull to win a major goes on. Scroll down to read reaction from both Yamashita and Hull. Be sure to read Phil Cartwright's report from the final round as well... If you missed any of the action today, you can watch highlights and all of the reaction from the final round on BBC Two from 23:40 BST. It will also be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer from 20:00 BST. Bye for now. Update: Date: 19:14 BST Title: Walk of a champion... Content: Update: Date: 19:12 BST Title: 'Proud of myself' Content: Hull -9 (69) More from Charley Hull after finishing joint-second at the Women's Open: "Coming into this week I didn't think I was going to make the cut. That's the truth of it. I wasn't hitting it very well. I couldn't prepare as well as I wanted to because I was poorly. I was obviously collapsed three times in the round in Evian and then still wasn't feeling well until Sunday last week. "So I think I've done pretty well and, considering my mindset coming into it, I'm pretty proud of myself." Update: Date: 19:09 BST Title: 'Don't feel I mucked up' Content: Hull -9 (69) It's a fourth second-placed finish at a major for Charley Hull, who has been speaking to the media: "Towards the end I didn't even hit a bad shot on 16. I hit a perfect tee shot and just the wind didn't even move it an inch, I hit it so pure. "It was a bit unfortunate on 17 missing that putt. I hit a good putt round the line. And then a shame about 18 because I had a pretty high chip over the bunker, and I'd done pretty well just to get it there. "It was a bit unfortunate but I felt like I was very much in control of my game today. I don't feel like I mishit any shots out there. I hit it pretty pure today." She added: "I really enjoyed it out there. I felt so in control of my game and I know in my head it's not like I whiffed a drive or whiffed a shot. I hit a good shot on 16. "I don't feel like I've actually mucked it up by mishitting any shots, which I think everybody can probably agree, you know what I mean? I played so solid." Update: Date: 19:04 BST Title: Yamashita celebrates 'special' victory Content: Yamashita -11 (70) Miyu Yamashita, speaking via a translator as she is presented the Women's Open trophy: "To win such a historic tournament in front of all these amazing fans is such an incredible feeling and to have my family around me and have so much support from everyone has just been amazing. To be part of such a moment in history is something special. "The course is set up to be very difficult but also in a brilliant condition and the amount of people supporting and the fans I had around me today really pushed me towards the victory and this is for them. "All the fans that came here today, all the fans that watched on TV around the world and my family, I would just like to thank everyone involved. Being my first win is something very special and to celebrate with everyone is an amazing feeling." Update: Date: 19:04 BST Title: Post Content: After the dousing in champagne, comes the trophy lift for Miyu Yamashita, who will also collect a record £1.1m winner's cheque after triumphing at Royal Porthcawl. The total purse in 2025 was also a record amount of £7.15m. Update: Date: 18:57 BST Title: Rhodes' 'unbelievable' hole in one Content: This video can not be played Rhodes hits miraculous hole-in-one on fifth hole England's Mimi Rhodes spoke to the media about the a hole in one she made today, as she finished one under for the tournament: "I hit a really good eight iron, right where I wanted it to. I wasn't expecting it to go in so I just picked up my tee and I heard everyone going crazy. "It was more loud than usual so I knew something had happened. Then we just walked up to the green and it was in the hole. "I had no idea it hit Steph's ball until I just saw the video, so that's unbelievable." Update: Date: 18:55 BST Title: That winning feeling Content: Almost time for Miyu Yamashita to get her hands on the trophy. What a belated birthday present. Update: Date: 18:54 BST Title: Woad 'handled' extra attention Content: England's Lottie Woad spoke to the media after she finished four under for the championship, tied for eighth: "I don't think it affected my golf, but it was definitely a lot more attention, a lot more eyes on me. "I feel like I handled it pretty well overall and was just sticking to my game, just trying to focus on the prep really and not let it distract me too much. "It was pretty good overall. Played solid. Probably hit it better over the weekend, just didn't really hole too many putts. But top 10, you can't complain too much. Overall a good week." Update: Date: 18:50 BST Title: Post Content: Miyu Yamashita is the fourth Japanese major champion in the past two years. Prior to 2024, Japan had just two major champions in the history of the LPGA Tour. Update: Date: 18:45 BST Title: Post Content: There's always next year, Charley... Update: Date: 18:40 BST Title: Post Content: Yamashita wins Women's Open A visibly emotional Miyu Yamashita is holding back tears of joy on the 18th green as she is congratulated by friends and fellow players. Update: Date: 18:40 BST Title: Post Content: Andrew RichardsBBC Sport Wales at Royal Porthcawl Miyu Yamashita punches the air and embraces her caddie! She's showered in champagne by her fellow Japanese players who rush the green to celebrate her champagne performance this week! Update: Date: 18:39 BST Title: Yamashita wins the Women's Open Content: Yamashita -11 (70) Miyu Yamashita becomes only the third Japanese player to win the Women's Open. Hinako Shibuno triumphed at Woburn in 2019, while Ayako Okamoto's victory came back in 1984, also at Woburn. Update: Date: 18:38 BST Title: Post Content: Kim -7, Yamashita -12 (17) A Lim Kim plays first and zips a glorious wedge into around a foot, which will surely be rewarded with a birdie. Miyu Yamashita now clips on and her ball topples down the green into around 10 feet. Those waiting behind the green with the champagne can probably take it off the ice. Her first putt rolls a foot past and she then tidies up to claim her first major title. Update: Date: 18:32 BST Title: Post Content: Andrew RichardsBBC Sport Wales at Royal Porthcawl The crowd welcome the surely soon-to-be champion Miyu Yamashita to the 18th green. She has work to do from the rough in front but shots in hand. Update: Date: 18:32 BST Title: Post Content: Kim -6, Yamashita -11 (17) Miyu Yamashita has her yardage book out. She needs to carry a greenside bunker some 180 yards away. If she can do that, she should be home and hosed. Crikey that's close. Her ball flirts with the first of two bunkers but stays left in the wispy stuff. A Lim Kim is itching to take her eight iron out to go for the green from the sand but sense prevails and she punts her ball out, forward and on to the fairway. Update: Date: 18:31 BST Title: Katsu finishes nine under Content: Katsu -9, A Lee -3 (F) Minami Katsu finishes with a birdie on the 18th - her fourth of the round - as she shoots 69. It's enough to tie for second with Charley Hull. But like Hull, all she can do is sit and wait for Miyu Yamashita to make her way to the finish. Update: Date: 18:27 BST Title: Post Content: Kim -6, Yamashita -11 (17) Miyu Yamashita has hit pretty much every fairway today but runs slightly left on the 18th. She should be fine from there although she has a couple of huge shots coming up. A Lim Kim, who also carded a bogey on the 17th, hits a decent tee shot but watches her ball roll on into the fairway bunker. Not what she wanted at all. Her challenge has faded with three dropped shots in the previous four holes. Update: Date: 18:24 BST Title: Post Content: Gareth VincentBBC Sport Wales at Royal Porthcawl Charley Hull said on Wednesday she thought 10 under par would be the winning score come Sunday night. She comes up one shot short of that mark after a round of 69 today. It has been a valiant effort from the Englishwoman.
