Putting holds the key for Leona Maguire and Séamus Power in season-ending run
For Maguire, the AIG Women's Open represents her final chance to win a Major title this year and while England's Lottie Woad is the favourite at Royal Porthcawl, the Co Cavan star has shown signs recently that she's got the game to tough it out.
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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Miyu Yamashita wins first major at Women's Open as Leona Maguire slumps to final round 79
Japan's Miyu Yamashita held off a strong challenge from Charley Hull to win the AIG Women's Open by two shots on Sunday. Yamashita, who began the day leading by one from Kim A-lim, carded a steady final-round 70 in blustery conditions to land her first major title with an 11-under-par total of 277 at Royal Porthcawl. Hull, three strokes behind on six under overnight, emerged as the closest challenger as she picked up five birdies in a stretch of 10 holes either side of the turn. Charley Hull was unable to sustain her challenge for the title (Nigel French/PA) That twice took the Englishwoman within one shot of the lead but Yamashita, who put herself in a position of strength with three birdies on the front nine, was always able to keep herself in front. A key period came as Yamashita overcame a nervy missed birdie putt to save par on the 14th by holing from an awkward distance. At around the same time Hull, playing two groups ahead, dropped a shot at the par-four 16th after visiting a bunker and the rough before underhitting a chip. It might have been worse but for holing a lengthy putt to escape with a bogey, but another shot was given away on the following hole. That saw Yamashita's lead increase to three and allowed her to finish in relative comfort, with a bogey on the 17th the only blemish on her card. Hull ended joint-second on nine under – her fourth runner-up finish in a major – alongside Minami Katsu of Japan, who birdied the last to shoot 69. Kim's challenge faded with a round that featured six bogeys but the 2020 US Women's Open winner managed to claw her way back into a share of fourth place on seven under with a birdie on the last. Another Japanese player, Rio Takeda, was alongside her after a 71. Lottie Woad, winner of the Scottish Open last week on her professional debut, overcame bogeys on her first two holes to shoot 71 and finish in a tie for eighth place on four under. Another Englishwoman, Mimi Rhodes, had a moment to savour with a remarkable hole-in-one on the par-three fifth, thanks to a fortunate ricochet off playing partner Stephanie Kyriacou's ball. Australian Kyriacou, who made a hole-in-one herself in the second round, played first and went close to another ace with a shot that came to rest inches from the cup. Rhodes then played a very similar shot and, luckily for her, Kyriacou's ball was handily placed for it to deflect in off. That was the undoubted highlight of a 74 that saw Rhodes finish alongside Georgia Hall, who shot 75, on one under. Meanwhile, Ireland's Leona Maguire slumped to a disappointing 79 in her final round to finish well down the field in a tie for 63rd.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Japan's Miyu Yamashita keeps her cool to win Women's Open to claim first Major
Miyu Yamashita won the Women's Open by two shots to claim the first Major of her career after the 24-year-old kept Charley Hull and Minami Katsu at bay to become the fourth different Major champion from Japan in the last two years. Yamashita finished with an overall score of 11 under at Royal Porthcawl after she sank three birdies on the front nine and she remained steady on the back nine before weathering a late stumble with her first bogey of the day on the par-four 17th. Hull mounted a spirited challenge with five birdies that brought her to within one shot of Yamashita. However, the Briton's title hopes crumbled with back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and 17th, while a missed birdie putt on the 18th sealed her fate. Katsu also tied for second with four birdies, offset by a bogey on the second, to finish with a final-round score of 69. READ MORE Ireland's Leona Maguire had a disappointing day, shooting a seven-over-par 79 to tied 63rd. Yamashita showed championship composure despite the bogey and survived a nervy finish when she found the rough with her first two shots on the final hole, but she avoided the bunkers to land her third shot on the green. Yamashita missed her birdie putt by inches but made par to spark wild celebrations that culminated with the new major champion being drenched in champagne by her compatriots. Meanwhile, Mimi Rhodes got a remarkable hole-in-one in her final round, after following Stephanie Kyriacou off the tee. The Australian went close to a hole-in-one herself with a shot that hit the green and came to rest inches from the cup. Rhodes then played a very similar shot and, luckily for her, Kyriacou's ball was handily placed for it to deflect in off. Kyriacou was still able to hole her short putt for a deserved birdie. INSANE HOLE-IN-ONE! 🤯 Mimi Rhodes with one of the CRAZIEST aces you'll ever see ‼️ — Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf)
The 42
2 days ago
- The 42
Charley Hull charges into Women's Open contention, Leona Maguire tied for 59th
ENGLAND'S CHARLEY Hull climbed into contention at the AIG Women's Open after a superb third-round 66 left her three shots behind leader Miyu Yamashita, while Ireland's Leona Maguire struggled on Saturday. Having made the cut on Friday, the Cavan native registered four bogeys and one birdie to finish with a 75 that left her four over par and tied for 59th. Hull began the day at Royal Porthcawl on even-par, 11 shots off the lead, but launched her charge with seven birdies and one bogey as her six-under score catapulted her up the leaderboard into a tie for fourth place. Advertisement 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. 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 – spoiled 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%. 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).
