AIG Women's British Open third round recap: After Miyu Yamashita stumbles, it's wide open
Yahoo7 hours ago
With 54 holes in the books, Miyu Yamashita holds on to a one shot lead at the 2025 AIG Women's British Open.
While she might still have the outright lead, Yamashita faced her fair share of struggles in Saturday's third round, and now a congested leaderboard promises a dramatic and exciting finish Sunday at Royal Porthcawl.
Read below for a recap, scores, highlights and more from the third round of the 2025 AIG Women's British Open.
AIG Women's British Open leaderboard
Keep tabs on every score being carded at Royal Porthcawl with the 2025 AIG Women's Open leaderboard from USATODAY sports. Here's what it looked like at the top after Saturday's third round:
POS
PLAYER
SCORE
1
M. Yamashita
-9
2
A. Lim Kim
-8
3
A. Lee
-7
T4
M. Katsu
-6
T4
C. Hull
-6
T4
M. Khang
-6
T4
R. Takeda
-6
Miyu Yamashita's troubles bunch up the board at Women's British Open
What looked like a two-player race cracked wide open for the final round of major championship golf in 2025. NBC booth analyst Morgan Pressel summed it up best as Japan's Miyu Yamashita limped home at Royal Porthcawl: "Almost everything has gone wrong for Miyu Yamashita, and she's still in the lead."
The straight player with the sweet short game suddenly turned crooked and her putter went ice cold, taking 34 putts. Yamashita's overnight three-stroke lead over compatriot and friend Rio Takeda slimmed down to one – over South Korea's A Lim Kim, the only player in the top 7 who has won a major.
Of course, it's worth noting that while Yamashita has yet to win on the LPGA, she's a 13-time winner on the JLPGA, including three majors on that tour.
"Today I'll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right," said Yamashita, "and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round tomorrow."
Yamashita and Takeda, playing together for a third straight day, both shot 2-over 74 in challenging afternoon conditions. For a player celebrating her 24th birthday, there wasn't a whole lot to clap about as she dropped down to 9 under for the tournament.
Kim's bogey-free 67 sets her up for a second title this year. Incredibly, there have been no repeat winners on tour this season, a record for this time of year.
Kim burst onto the scene internationally when she stormed from behind to win the 2020 U.S. Women's Open, held in December, with three straight birdies down the stretch at Champions Golf Club in Houston.
"Honestly, I'm not focused on the leader," said Kim. "I focus on my process and my shot and then my position."
While Kim is a power player, American Andrea Lee, like Yamashita, plays a game of precision. She's two back at 7 under and in search of the first big title of her career. The former Stanford star needed only 25 putts in the third round.
"I think Evian was probably my best ball-striking week of the year," said Lee who finished fifth in France, "and so I gained a lot of confidence from that."
Four players trail by three in a share of fourth, including English star Charley Hull, who delighted crowds early on with a 66. Hull's close friend Georgia Hall, the 2018 British Open champion, is five back.
The always entertaining Hull noted that she loves a good chase.
"Kind of like playing golf with your mates," said Hull. "You just want to make birdies on every hole. That's how it feels tomorrow."
Charley Hull leads strong force of of English players
With seven birdies in her first 13 holes, Charley Hull lit up crowds early Saturday during the third round of the 2025 AIG Women's British Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
The round started off with a bit of an "oops" moment, however, when Hull hit a wayward tee shot off the fourth that almost hit Minjee Lee as Lee prepared to tee off the 17th.
"Nearly took Minjee out," said Dame Laura Davies from the booth.
Hull went on to par the hole and then rattled off three consecutive birdies to ultimately shoot 66.
It's been quite a run for English players, with Georgia Hall sitting in a share of eighth at 4 under after a 68 and Mimi Rhodes T-11 at 3 under alongside compatriot Lottie Woad, who shot 71 on Saturday.
A Lim Kim the only major champion on the board at AIG
"It being so close to home, yeah, I've had so much family out here supporting and cheering for me," said Rhodes. "Honestly, it's just been better than a dream come true."
South Korea's A Lim Kim sits at 5 under through 15 holes and in a share of second at 8 under with Rio Takeda. Kim, who plays more of a power game compared the petite leader Miyu Yamashita, burst onto the national scene when she won the 2020 U.S. Women's Open in Houston.
Now a three-time winner on the LPGA, Kim won the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Florida to start to the season. She has yet to make a bogey today.
Lottie Woad makes it through No. 16 unscathed at Porthcawl
One day after a triple-bogey seven on the 16th essentially derailed Lottie Woad's championship hopes, Woad poured in a par save on the demanding par 4 to stay at 2 under for the week. After a bogey on the first hole, Woad has one birdie and 14 pars to remain in the top 20 in her second event as a pro.
Final pairing loses ground on front nine at Women's British
Japanese stars Miya Yamashita and Rio Takeda began the day firmly in control but have slipped back after finishing the front nine 1 over par. Yamashita didn't card a single birdie on the front nine while Takeda managed only one. Yamashita now leads American Andrea Lee by two strokes while major champ A Lim Kim and Takeda are three back.
Three amateurs vie for Smyth Salver honors at British Open
Three amateurs made the cut this week at Royal Porthcawl, and two of them were paired together on Saturday, with Paula Martin Sampedro and Jeneath Wong playing alongside each other while Carla Bernat, known as Carla Bernat Escuder prior to this week, was just a few groups back.
Spain's Martin Sampedro carded five birdies in a 2-under 70 on Saturday to take a three-shot lead in the amateur race, moving to even par for the championship. A 73 from Bernat, the Augusta National Women's Amateur champion, moved her to 3 over for the week while Wong's 77 put her at 7 over for the tournament.
Andrea Lee rockets up the board and within two at British Open
American Andrea Lee turns up the heat with four consecutive birdies to get to 8 under and in solo second. Six under on the day through 12 holes, Lee now trails Miyu Yamashita by two shots.
Lee has a consistent Women's British record, finishing outside the top 25 only once in five pervious appearances.
Meanwhile Japan's Minami Katsu rocketed 32 spots up the board after a 7-under 65 that included bogeys on two of the first three holes. Katsu carded seven birdies and an eagle over the last 15 holes.
Now 27 years old, Katsu became the youngest winner in JLPGA history when she captured the 2014 KKT Cup Vantelin Open at age 15. She has eight victories on the JLPGA.
Miyu Yamashita still in command at Women's British
Overnight leader Miyu Yamashita picked up where she left off, carding several stress-free pars on the first three holes to stay at 11 under, though her lead has now grown to four over compatriot Rio Takeda. It's a comfortable pairing for the decorated Japanese players, who teamed up together at the Dow Championship earlier this year.
Another birdie for English star Charley Hull at Women's British
Make it six birdies for Charley Hull in 12 holes at Royal Porthcawl as the crowds begin to swell around the English star. Hull, who has been quite vocal about the fact that she's not a big fan of links golf, had a health scare at the Amundi Evian Championship last month when she was carted off the golf course on a stretcher. While recovering from a virus, she then tweaked her back getting something out of her car.
On Saturday in Wales, it all seems to be in the rear view. She's currently 5 back.
Major winners making waves in Wales
Minjee Lee vaulted up the board with a 4-under 68, putting the three-time major winner into the top 20. She's now 2 under for the championship. Frenchwoman Celine Boutier shot 69 on Saturday to get to 1 under. LPGA Hall of Famer Lydia Ko just wrapped up a 70 to get to even par.
Charley Hull among early movers at Women's British Open
It's another hour before the leaders tee off, and Charley Hull is making a move. The English star has birdied four of the first eight holes at Royal Porthcawl to move up to 4 under for the championship and into a share of third with China's Yan Liu, who birdied the first two holes.
Another English star, Lottie Woad, has hit the fairway on the opening hole.
Where to watch, follow the 2025 Women's British Open
In addition to the options listed below, the R&A will live stream coverage and have R&A radio all four days as well.
Third round, Saturday, Aug. 2
7 a.m. ET-12 p.m. ET, USA
12 p.m. ET -2 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock
7 a.m. ET -2 p.m. ET, NBC Sports App
When do the leaders start their third round?
The last five twosomes to hit the first tee on Saturday will be:
8:55 a.m. ET: Casandra Alexander, Sei Young Kim
9:05 a.m. ET: Madelene Sagstrom, A Lim Kim
9:15 a.m. ET: Laura Fuenfstueck, Chiara Tamburlini
9:25 a.m. ET: Pajaree Anannarukarn, Lindy Duncan
9:35 a.m. ET: Rio Takeda, Miyu Yamashita
Which big names missed the cut at the Women's British Open?
The first-round leader was one of the golfers to not make the weekend. Other notables to miss the cut include a rookie sensation who took a 10 on one hole and as well as several major champions.
What is the prize money for the 2025 Women's British Open?
The total purse at the AIG is $9.5 million with the winner taking home $1.425 million. That first-place money compares to the $1.2 million Grace Kim won at the Amundi Evian Championship, the $1.8 million Minjee Lee won at the KPMG Women's PGA, the $2.4 million Maja Stark won at the U.S. Open and the $1.2 million that Mao Saigo won at the Chevron Championship.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: AIG Women's British Open 2025: Miyu Yamashita leads by one after 54 holes
While she might still have the outright lead, Yamashita faced her fair share of struggles in Saturday's third round, and now a congested leaderboard promises a dramatic and exciting finish Sunday at Royal Porthcawl.
Read below for a recap, scores, highlights and more from the third round of the 2025 AIG Women's British Open.
AIG Women's British Open leaderboard
Keep tabs on every score being carded at Royal Porthcawl with the 2025 AIG Women's Open leaderboard from USATODAY sports. Here's what it looked like at the top after Saturday's third round:
POS
PLAYER
SCORE
1
M. Yamashita
-9
2
A. Lim Kim
-8
3
A. Lee
-7
T4
M. Katsu
-6
T4
C. Hull
-6
T4
M. Khang
-6
T4
R. Takeda
-6
Miyu Yamashita's troubles bunch up the board at Women's British Open
What looked like a two-player race cracked wide open for the final round of major championship golf in 2025. NBC booth analyst Morgan Pressel summed it up best as Japan's Miyu Yamashita limped home at Royal Porthcawl: "Almost everything has gone wrong for Miyu Yamashita, and she's still in the lead."
The straight player with the sweet short game suddenly turned crooked and her putter went ice cold, taking 34 putts. Yamashita's overnight three-stroke lead over compatriot and friend Rio Takeda slimmed down to one – over South Korea's A Lim Kim, the only player in the top 7 who has won a major.
Of course, it's worth noting that while Yamashita has yet to win on the LPGA, she's a 13-time winner on the JLPGA, including three majors on that tour.
"Today I'll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right," said Yamashita, "and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round tomorrow."
Yamashita and Takeda, playing together for a third straight day, both shot 2-over 74 in challenging afternoon conditions. For a player celebrating her 24th birthday, there wasn't a whole lot to clap about as she dropped down to 9 under for the tournament.
Kim's bogey-free 67 sets her up for a second title this year. Incredibly, there have been no repeat winners on tour this season, a record for this time of year.
Kim burst onto the scene internationally when she stormed from behind to win the 2020 U.S. Women's Open, held in December, with three straight birdies down the stretch at Champions Golf Club in Houston.
"Honestly, I'm not focused on the leader," said Kim. "I focus on my process and my shot and then my position."
While Kim is a power player, American Andrea Lee, like Yamashita, plays a game of precision. She's two back at 7 under and in search of the first big title of her career. The former Stanford star needed only 25 putts in the third round.
"I think Evian was probably my best ball-striking week of the year," said Lee who finished fifth in France, "and so I gained a lot of confidence from that."
Four players trail by three in a share of fourth, including English star Charley Hull, who delighted crowds early on with a 66. Hull's close friend Georgia Hall, the 2018 British Open champion, is five back.
The always entertaining Hull noted that she loves a good chase.
"Kind of like playing golf with your mates," said Hull. "You just want to make birdies on every hole. That's how it feels tomorrow."
Charley Hull leads strong force of of English players
With seven birdies in her first 13 holes, Charley Hull lit up crowds early Saturday during the third round of the 2025 AIG Women's British Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
The round started off with a bit of an "oops" moment, however, when Hull hit a wayward tee shot off the fourth that almost hit Minjee Lee as Lee prepared to tee off the 17th.
"Nearly took Minjee out," said Dame Laura Davies from the booth.
Hull went on to par the hole and then rattled off three consecutive birdies to ultimately shoot 66.
It's been quite a run for English players, with Georgia Hall sitting in a share of eighth at 4 under after a 68 and Mimi Rhodes T-11 at 3 under alongside compatriot Lottie Woad, who shot 71 on Saturday.
A Lim Kim the only major champion on the board at AIG
"It being so close to home, yeah, I've had so much family out here supporting and cheering for me," said Rhodes. "Honestly, it's just been better than a dream come true."
South Korea's A Lim Kim sits at 5 under through 15 holes and in a share of second at 8 under with Rio Takeda. Kim, who plays more of a power game compared the petite leader Miyu Yamashita, burst onto the national scene when she won the 2020 U.S. Women's Open in Houston.
Now a three-time winner on the LPGA, Kim won the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Florida to start to the season. She has yet to make a bogey today.
Lottie Woad makes it through No. 16 unscathed at Porthcawl
One day after a triple-bogey seven on the 16th essentially derailed Lottie Woad's championship hopes, Woad poured in a par save on the demanding par 4 to stay at 2 under for the week. After a bogey on the first hole, Woad has one birdie and 14 pars to remain in the top 20 in her second event as a pro.
Final pairing loses ground on front nine at Women's British
Japanese stars Miya Yamashita and Rio Takeda began the day firmly in control but have slipped back after finishing the front nine 1 over par. Yamashita didn't card a single birdie on the front nine while Takeda managed only one. Yamashita now leads American Andrea Lee by two strokes while major champ A Lim Kim and Takeda are three back.
Three amateurs vie for Smyth Salver honors at British Open
Three amateurs made the cut this week at Royal Porthcawl, and two of them were paired together on Saturday, with Paula Martin Sampedro and Jeneath Wong playing alongside each other while Carla Bernat, known as Carla Bernat Escuder prior to this week, was just a few groups back.
Spain's Martin Sampedro carded five birdies in a 2-under 70 on Saturday to take a three-shot lead in the amateur race, moving to even par for the championship. A 73 from Bernat, the Augusta National Women's Amateur champion, moved her to 3 over for the week while Wong's 77 put her at 7 over for the tournament.
Andrea Lee rockets up the board and within two at British Open
American Andrea Lee turns up the heat with four consecutive birdies to get to 8 under and in solo second. Six under on the day through 12 holes, Lee now trails Miyu Yamashita by two shots.
Lee has a consistent Women's British record, finishing outside the top 25 only once in five pervious appearances.
Meanwhile Japan's Minami Katsu rocketed 32 spots up the board after a 7-under 65 that included bogeys on two of the first three holes. Katsu carded seven birdies and an eagle over the last 15 holes.
Now 27 years old, Katsu became the youngest winner in JLPGA history when she captured the 2014 KKT Cup Vantelin Open at age 15. She has eight victories on the JLPGA.
Miyu Yamashita still in command at Women's British
Overnight leader Miyu Yamashita picked up where she left off, carding several stress-free pars on the first three holes to stay at 11 under, though her lead has now grown to four over compatriot Rio Takeda. It's a comfortable pairing for the decorated Japanese players, who teamed up together at the Dow Championship earlier this year.
Another birdie for English star Charley Hull at Women's British
Make it six birdies for Charley Hull in 12 holes at Royal Porthcawl as the crowds begin to swell around the English star. Hull, who has been quite vocal about the fact that she's not a big fan of links golf, had a health scare at the Amundi Evian Championship last month when she was carted off the golf course on a stretcher. While recovering from a virus, she then tweaked her back getting something out of her car.
On Saturday in Wales, it all seems to be in the rear view. She's currently 5 back.
Major winners making waves in Wales
Minjee Lee vaulted up the board with a 4-under 68, putting the three-time major winner into the top 20. She's now 2 under for the championship. Frenchwoman Celine Boutier shot 69 on Saturday to get to 1 under. LPGA Hall of Famer Lydia Ko just wrapped up a 70 to get to even par.
Charley Hull among early movers at Women's British Open
It's another hour before the leaders tee off, and Charley Hull is making a move. The English star has birdied four of the first eight holes at Royal Porthcawl to move up to 4 under for the championship and into a share of third with China's Yan Liu, who birdied the first two holes.
Another English star, Lottie Woad, has hit the fairway on the opening hole.
Where to watch, follow the 2025 Women's British Open
In addition to the options listed below, the R&A will live stream coverage and have R&A radio all four days as well.
Third round, Saturday, Aug. 2
7 a.m. ET-12 p.m. ET, USA
12 p.m. ET -2 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock
7 a.m. ET -2 p.m. ET, NBC Sports App
When do the leaders start their third round?
The last five twosomes to hit the first tee on Saturday will be:
8:55 a.m. ET: Casandra Alexander, Sei Young Kim
9:05 a.m. ET: Madelene Sagstrom, A Lim Kim
9:15 a.m. ET: Laura Fuenfstueck, Chiara Tamburlini
9:25 a.m. ET: Pajaree Anannarukarn, Lindy Duncan
9:35 a.m. ET: Rio Takeda, Miyu Yamashita
Which big names missed the cut at the Women's British Open?
The first-round leader was one of the golfers to not make the weekend. Other notables to miss the cut include a rookie sensation who took a 10 on one hole and as well as several major champions.
What is the prize money for the 2025 Women's British Open?
The total purse at the AIG is $9.5 million with the winner taking home $1.425 million. That first-place money compares to the $1.2 million Grace Kim won at the Amundi Evian Championship, the $1.8 million Minjee Lee won at the KPMG Women's PGA, the $2.4 million Maja Stark won at the U.S. Open and the $1.2 million that Mao Saigo won at the Chevron Championship.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: AIG Women's British Open 2025: Miyu Yamashita leads by one after 54 holes
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