Yamashita holds off Hull to win Womens Open
- BBC News
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Yamashita overcomes Hull charge to win Womens Open
AIG Womens Open 2025 - final round leaderboard
-11 Yamashita (Jpn); -9 Hull (Eng), Katsu (Jpn); -7 AL Kim (Kor), Takeda (Jpn)
Selected others
-4 Woad (Eng); -2 M Lee (Aus); -1 Hall (Eng), Rhodes (Eng); +1 Thitikul (Tha); +3 Ko (NZ), Korda (US)
Miyu Yamashita produced an almost faultless final round to hold off Englands Charley Hull and win the Womens Open at Royal Porthcawl.
It is a first major victory for the 24-year-old from Japan, following top-10 finishes at each of the past two editions of the Womens PGA Championship.
Yamashitas two-under round of 70 left her two shots clear of 29-year-old Hull, who carded a three-under 69 to finish second in a major for the fourth time in her career.
Minami Katsu of Japan birdied the last to finish alongside Hull at nine under for the championship.
Hull relentlessly pursued Yamashitas lead all afternoon but consecutive bogeys at the 16th and 17th, her only dropped shots of the day, ended her hopes.
Yamashita assumed control of the tournament with a seven-under-par round of 65 on Friday morning and led from that moment on.
She briefly shared top spot with playing partner A Lim Kim early in her final round, but the South Koreans birdie at the second was quickly followed by consecutive bogeys.
Hull, who propelled herself into contention with a six-under 66 on Saturday, quickly emerged as the main challenger to world number 15 Yamashita.
They both played their first nine holes in three under par, meaning Yamashita reached the turn three shots clear.
Hull refused to relent and continued to attack, closing the gap to one shot until a costly trip to a fairway bunker on the 16th.
A couple of groups further back, Yamashita stayed remarkably composed and was able to limit the damage of her rare errors - superbly saving par with a lengthy putt at the 14th.
With the knowledge that a bogey on the par-five 18th would be enough for victory, there were some nervous moments when Yamashita found the rough with her first two shots - before a safe chip onto the green set up a par that confirmed she would be the third Japanese winner of the Womens Open.
Speaking via a translator at the trophy presentation, she said: "To win such a historic tournament in front of all these amazing fans is such an incredible feeling.
"To be part of such a moment in history is something very special," added Yamashita - who collected a winners prize of $1.462m (£1.1m).
Charley Hull also finished as Womens Open runner-up at Walton Heath in 2023
Hulls preparation for the Womens Open was disrupted by a virus which forced her to withdraw from the Evian Championship last month.
Having trailed Yamashita by 11 shots at the halfway mark, she played her final two rounds in a combined nine under par - a score only bettered by fellow second-placed finisher Katsu.
"I really enjoyed it out there," said Hull, who was also runner-up behind Lilia Vu at Walton Heath in 2023.
"I felt so in control of my game and I know in my head its not like I whiffed a drive or whiffed a shot. I hit a good shot on 16.
"I dont feel like Ive actually mucked it up by mishitting any shots, which I think everybody can probably agree, you know what I mean? I played so solid."
She added: "Coming into this week, I didnt think I was going to make the cut. Thats the truth of it.
"I wasnt hitting it very well. I couldnt prepare as well as I wanted to because I was poorly. I obviously collapsed three times in the round at the Evian and then I still wasnt feeling well until Sunday last week.
"So I think Ive done pretty well and, considering my mindset coming into it, Im pretty proud of myself."
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Englands Mimi Rhodes hits miraculous hole-in-one on fifth hole
Englands Mimi Rhodes, a three-time winner on the Ladies European Tour this year, finished one under par for the tournament and capped her Womens Open debut with an astonishing hole-in-one on the par-three fifth.
Playing partner Steph Kyriacou, who had recorded an ace of her own at the eighth on Friday, struck her tee shot to within a couple of inches of the pin.
Rhodes effort shortly afterwards was tracking just to the left of the cup, but her ball collided with Kyriacous and deflected into the hole.
The 23-year-old said: "I hit a really good eight iron, right where I wanted it to. I wasnt 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 Stephs ball until I just saw the video, so thats unbelievable."
Rhodes was one of four English players who were within six shots of Yamashitas lead at the end of the third round.
Georgia Hall, the 2018 champion, ended alongside Rhodes in a tie for 19th place, while pre-tournament favourite Lottie Woad was three shots better off to finish in a tie for eighth place.
