PAUSE COLLE, Wales – Japan’s Yamashitamiya won its first major title on Sunday when she endured accusations from Charlie Hull for not making bogeys until the women’s open championship results no longer doubt.
Yamashita was closed at 2-under 70 for a two-shot victory, drilling two big par putts into the Royal Porte Cole’s back nine.
Her final test came in 16th place for 401 yards, one of the toughest things on the course. Yamashita, who turned 24 on Saturday, was digging into the middle of the drive to find greenery and almost digging a hole in his 45-foot putt. That gave her a three-shot lead by drilling two holes.
Her final act was a tap-in for a par finishing at 11 under 277, and she raised her arms to celebrate. Yamashita wiped away tears as he headed towards the scoring trailer.
“It’s very, very special to be part of such a moment in history,” Yamabashi said through an interpreter in his trophy presentation.
Hal gave it her best shot. She started the final round three shots, entering the mix with three birdies on a four-hole stretch, stopping a 20-foot birdie on the 14th to reach within one shot of the lead.
Behind her on the course, Yamashita hit a bunker from the tee on the 13th of the par 5 and exploded, heading a long way for the third time, missing Green to the left. She chipped weakly and chipped to 18 feet, filling her putt.
She also poured an 8-foot putt at 12 under shortly after Hal went 11 under.
The English star blinked first. Hal didn’t get help from the wind on the tee shot on the 16th. Her third shot gained a boundary from the green back and had to make 20 footers to escape along with Bogie.
Hal bogeyed the 17th and her chances were held. She closed with a 69 and finished as runner-up in the fourth major. Minami Katsu never got serious about the mix, but her closed birdie gave her a 69 to tie it up second.
“I felt pretty good about how I fought back over the weekend,” Hal said.
“I don’t think I’m actually plaguing it by actually missitting the shot. I think everyone can probably agree. Do you know what I mean?
2020 US Women’s Open champion Lim Kim hit a wedge up to five feet for a birdie on the second hole, tied it together to lead Yamashita. However, she made a series of blunders, starting with a 3 putt in the third hole and then retreating. She had six bogeys in rounds of 73, tied her to fourth with Rio Takeda (71).
“I still love this challenge because there’s a bit of pain in my heart, but that’s a good motivation for me,” Kim said. “So I’m going to continue working on that.”
Four players from Japan are currently winning the final nine majors in women’s golf, the second year with two Japanese major champions. Mao Saigo won his first major in the Chevron Championship. Ayaka Furue (Evian Championship) and Yuka Saso (US Women’s Open) won majors last year.
Yamashita won his first LPGA Tour, extending his winning streak that had no multiple winners throughout the 20 tournaments.
There may also be changes in global rankings. Nelly Korda will be closed at 75, and forecasts show that she will fall to second place behind Gino Chitickle. Korda was number one since March 2024. She came in 36th place and went to 14 tournaments without winning last November.
This is the second time Thitikul is ranked number one in the world rankings for women. She also came in first place for two weeks in the fall of 2022.
Yamashita, at least on the ropes, struggled from the tee, and struggled in round 74 with the Greens, and didn’t have the best birthday to clung to a one-shot lead. However, she stayed in range with her father until late in the evening and found a correction.
Lottie Ward won the Women’s Scotland Open in her professional debut, closing with a 71 on Sunday, finishing in eighth place. In her final four events, Woad won the Women’s Ireland Open and missed the playoffs with one shot at the Evian Championship as an amateur.
She has victory and top 10 in two professional starts.
“I don’t think it had an impact on my golf, but it definitely paid more attention, it gave me more attention,” Woad said. “I handled it all well and felt like I was stuck with my game. I’m just trying to focus on my preparation and not being too distracted.”
