Latest news with #AIGWomensOpen
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Woad's magic missing as Okayama, Takeda lead Women's Open
PORTHCAWL, Wales: England's Lottie Woad endured a frustrating start to the AIG Women's Open as Japan's Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda topped the first-round leaderboard at a sunny Royal Porthcawl on Thursday. An astonishing July, which culminated in Woad winning the Scottish Open in her first event as a professional, had made the 21-year-old favorite for the year's final major. But the former Florida State University player found the going tough on the south Wales coast as she ground out a level-par round of 72 thanks to a birdie at the last. Okayama's five-under 67 gave her the lead before she was joined by Takeda after she birdied the 18th. Japanese players dominated the opening day with Miyu Yamashita at four-under ahead of a large group on three-under that included Chevron Championship winner Mao Saigo, Shiho Kuwaki and Chizato Iwai. Reigning champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand and world No. 1 Nelly Korda, like Woad, failed to take advantage of relatively calm conditions. Ko finished on one over, while American Korda was two-under par. World No. 139 Okayama bogeyed her opening hole but birdied five of the next eight and was rock solid on the way back with another birdie at the 17th moving her ahead. Takeda recovered from a double-bogey seven at the ninth with four birdies on the back nine, putting her joint first. By far the largest galleries assembled just after lunchtime to watch Woad in a group alongside Ko and American Lilia Vu. Despite it being her first major as a professional, Surrey-born Woad's win at the Irish Open and then missing out by one stroke at the Evian Championship just before turning pro meant she arrived in Wales with sky-high expectations. Woad was a cumulative 55-under-par for her last three tournaments and the crowd did not have to wait long for a glimpse of her quality as she rolled in a birdie at the first. A bogey at the third and another at the fifth followed but she then had the crowd cheering as a long putt from the edge of the sixth green disappeared for another birdie. Woad struggled to gain any momentum though and scrambled for a par-five at the ninth. A bogey on the 11th put her one over for the round but she got back to level with a birdie three at the 14th after a majestic approach shot. Another mistake at the par-three 15th cost her shot though before a birdie at the 18th made sure she finished the way she had started.
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Lottie Woad five shots off pace after AIG Women's Open first round
Surrey sensation Woad carded a level-par 72 at a blustery Royal Porthcawl on a day the 21-year-old sensation was under huge scrutiny and Mimi Rhodes shot 69 to finish as the top English player. Woad entered the final major of the year as tournament favourite, despite this being only her second event as a professional. England's Lottie Woad is five shots off the lead after the opening day at Royal Porthcawl (Nigel French/PA) She had won her first at the Women's Scottish Open last weekend, a remarkable success coming on the back of victory at the Irish Open and a tied-third finish in The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur. Woad, playing alongside the last two Open champions Lydia Ko and Lillia Vu, drew large galleries on the South Wales links and showed battling qualities despite not playing her best golf. Ko signed for a 73 and Vu 74 as Woad had 10 pars, four birdies and four bogeys in tough conditions. Woad drained a 20-foot putt to birdie the opening hole, but found a greenside bunker at the third and dropped a shot after failing to keep her chip on the green. Another shot went at the fifth, but Woad holed a long-range putt at the sixth to get back to par. A birdie for Lottie Woad… She's already making moves at Royal Porthcawl 👀 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) July 31, 2025 Wayward tee shots at the 11th and 15th cost Woad further strokes, but a fine approach to the 14th produced a birdie and another to loud cheers came at the par-five 18th. 'I knew I had to get back to even,' Woad told Sky Sports. 'I'm off early (on Friday) and I'll just try a get a good score together. 'It's a great test, definitely challenges you. If you hit a bad shot you're going to be punished.' Rhodes played in the 2024 Curtis Cup before turning professional and has enjoyed a spectacular year on the Ladies European Tour with three victories. England's Mimi Rhodes put herself into contention at the AIG Women's Open with an opening round of 69 (Nigel French/PA) The 23-year-old from Bath added an eagle at the ninth to four birdies for a fine three-under par score of 69 to share fourth place. Rhodes said: 'I've had a few up and down weeks in the last few weeks, so I'm really happy to be striking it well and putting at my best again. 'I was coming in fresh and open-minded, it was so fun to have so many friends and family here supporting me.' Japanese players dominated the top of the leaderboard with Takeda and Okayama firing 67s and Miyu Yamashita recording five birdies and an eagle in a round of 68. Darcey Harry delivers! A birdie from the home favourite and the fans at Royal Porthcawl are loving every second. 🏴 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) July 31, 2025 Three more Japanese players – Chisato Iwai, Mao Saigo and Shiho Kuwaki – were in a big bunch of players on 69. World number one Nelly Korda and home favourite Darcey Harry, from nearby Penarth and a Royal Porthcawl member, were in a group at two under-par. Georgia Hall, the 2018 Open champion, shot a one-under par 70 and fellow English player Charley Hull carded a topsy-turvy 73. Hull recovered from a double bogey six at the second, and being three-over through three, with five birdies in six holes. Four consecutive bogeys on the back nine dropped her down the field but a birdie at the 18th moved her within seven shots of the leaders.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Relive round one of the Women's Open
Update: Date: 19:28 BST Title: Watch highlights later Content: AIG Women's Open 2025 BBC Two This video can not be played Korda & Woad feature in Women's Open day one best shots Our text updates are coming to an end now, but there will be a full report of day one on the BBC Sport website and app in a short while. Highlights can be found on BBC Two at 23:00 BST. Our text coverage will resume at about 08:00 BST on Friday - thanks for your company today. Update: Date: 19:25 BST Title: Rhodes happy after three-under-par round Content: Rhodes -3 (69) Mimi Rhodes, speaking to Sky Sports after her round of 69: "I'm very happy. I've had a few up-and-down weeks in the past few weeks, so I'm really happy to be striking it well and putting at my best again. "I was coming in fresh and open-minded. It's good to have so much family here to support, there are 25-30 of them. I was just trying to do my best out there." Update: Date: 19:21 BST Title: The latest leaderboard Content: Leaders: -5 Okayama (Jpn), Takeda (Jpn); -4 Yamashita (Jpn) Selected others: -3 Chun (Kor), Rhodes (Eng), Saigo (Jpn); -2 Harry (Wal), Korda (US), M Lee (Aus), Thitikul (Tha); E Woad (Eng); +1 Hull (Eng), Ko (NZ); +2 Vu (US) Update: Date: 19:16 BST Title: Rhodes ends round with a par Content: Rhodes -3 (69) An exit from the bunker gives Mimi Rhodes an outside chance of a birdie. She sends her effort slightly to the right, but easily cleans up a par to finish a brilliant opening day. The Englishwoman is two shots off the lead and is the highest British player on the leaderboard. Update: Date: 19:06 BST Title: Post Content: Rhodes -3 (17) Ah. Mimi Rhodes' brilliant tee shot is wiped out as she sinks her approach into a greenside bunker. Update: Date: 19:01 BST Title: Hall pleased amid 'tough' conditions Content: G Hall -1 (71) Former Women's Open champion Georgia Hall was pleased with a one-under-par round in what she called "tough" conditions because of the wind on the south Wales coastline. "I love this event and obviously a home event - I have people supporting me much more than I do when I play in America. This is one I really strive to do well in," said Hall, the most recent British winner, having triumphed at Lytham in 2018. "I am just happy to have a good first round and also play this golf course. I think it's one of the best that we have actually. It's very tough, especially when the wind gets up." Update: Date: 18:56 BST Title: Rhodes on 18th Content: Rhodes -3 (17) So then, Mimi Rhodes' tee shot on the 18th. That's more like it. Powerful and straight down the middle of the fairway. Update: Date: 18:51 BST Title: Rhodes saves par Content: Rhodes -3 (17) England's Mimi Rhodes finds herself in difficulty once again after a loose approach shot, and, once again, she has an eight-footer to save par. But, once again, her putt is perfect, right in the middle of the hole. She has some momentum going into the par-five 18th, with a chance to close up to the two leaders. Update: Date: 18:50 BST Title: 'I am happy I hung in there' - Woad Content: Woad E (72) Lottie Woad described her opening round as "OK" after a birdie on 18 saw the pre-tournament favourite finish on level par. "It was a bit mixed," the 21-year-old said. "I had a good amount of birdies but a few poor bogeys on the front nine. "It was nice to finish with a birdie on the last." Woad also made birdie on the first hole as well as the sixth and 14th, but four bogeys alongside those mean she currently trails the leaders by five shots. "It's one of those rounds that could have got away from me so I am happy I hung in there," Woad added. Update: Date: 18:47 BST Title: Watch highlights later Content: AIG Women's Open 2025 BBC Two We'll be going a little while longer with our live text coverage. Remember, you can watch highlights of all four rounds from Royal Porthcawl on the BBC. The best moments from round one can be found on BBC Two from 23:00 BST - it'll also be available on the BBC iPlayer. Update: Date: 18:37 BST Title: Korda finishes three shots off lead Content: Korda -2, Yin -1, Jutanugarn E (F) After nine pars in a row, world number one Nelly Korda finishes with a birdie. She shot a two-under 70 today, and is well in contention, just three shots off the lead. Thai 2016 winner Ariya Jutanugarn has a chance to end her round with an eagle, but comes up short and has to settle for a birdie. Angel Yin pars to finish on one under. Update: Date: 18:30 BST Title: Rhodes saves par again Content: Rhodes -3 (16) Oooof, a loose one from Mimi Rhodes puts her in the rough, but she recovers brilliantly with a chip on to the green that goes to within a foot of the hole. An easy putt for par. Update: Date: 18:28 BST Title: 'Super nervous - but it was great out there' - Harry Content: Harry -2 (70) Darcey Harry was delighted to card a round of 70 on her AIG Women's Open debut. The Royal Porthcawl member, 22, bogeyed the first hole but fought back to finish two under in what is just the second major of her career. "It was a really good start and I am very happy," Wales' Harry said. "I didn't think I would come off with two under par today. I am not too sure why - I was just super nervous - but it was great out there." Harry said the wind today, which was very testing at times, was about average for Royal Porthcawl. "This is the normal wind strength," she added. "It got up and it got down - it was a bit of a mix." Update: Date: 18:19 BST Title: Korda and Yin make par Content: Korda -1, Yin -1 (17) American pair Nelly Korda and Angel Yin both save par on the penultimate hole. It's been a bit of a battle for world number one Korda today. But she's still in with a shout. Update: Date: 18:18 BST Title: Rhodes saves par Content: Rhodes -3 (15) Mimi Rhodes has a big putt to prevent back-to-back bogeys on the tricky par three 15th. Pressure, what pressure? The Englishwoman sinks her shot into the middle of the hole. She'll take a driver to the 16th tee. Update: Date: 18:14 BST Title: Woad shoots opening-round 72 Content: Ko +1 (73), Vu +2 (74), Woad E (72) Lottie Woad began her round at Royal Porthcawl under grey skies and finishes it with a birdie in glorious sunshine. Woad chipped into the breeze on the 18th and just missed an eagle after the ball whistles just past the pin. The 21-year-old Englishwoman then rolls in a birdie putt to finish with a even-par round of 72. Lydia Ko ends the day with a par to finish with a one-over round of 73 while Lilia Vu taps in for par to get round in a two-over 74. Plenty for all three to do tomorrow to climb up the leaderboard. They will go out at 08:09 BST on Friday. Update: Date: 18:08 BST Title: Japanese duo lead the way Content: A reminder that Japanese duo Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda lead the way after five-under rounds of 67 today. It's been a generally good day for scoring, with 53 players currently under par. You can see the full leaderboard by licking the Leaderboard tab at the top of this page. Update: Date: 18:01 BST Title: Rhodes bogeys 14th Content: Rhodes -3 (14) Ooof, a good effort, but still a bogey. England's Mimi Rhodes drops a shot after leaving her putt on the 14th just short. She had sent her tee shot into the rough and had initially done really well to hack her next shot back onto the fairway. But she gave herself too much work to do on the green. Update: Date: 18:01 BST Title: Watch highlights later Content: AIG Women's Open 2025 BBC Two You can watch highlights of all four rounds from Royal Porthcawl on the BBC. The best moments from round one can be found on BBC Two from 23:00 BST - it'll also be available on the BBC iPlayer. Update: Date: 17:56 BST Title: Korda saves par again Content: Korda -1 (16) How's your luck?! It's with Nelly Korda today who saves par with a meaty putt that finds the lip and just about sinks in. That's seven pars in a row for the American.
South Wales Argus
11 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Lottie Woad five shots off pace after AIG Women's Open first round
Surrey sensation Woad carded a level-par 72 at a blustery Royal Porthcawl on a day the 21-year-old sensation was under huge scrutiny and Mimi Rhodes shot 69 to finish as the top English player. Woad entered the final major of the year as tournament favourite, despite this being only her second event as a professional. England's Lottie Woad is five shots off the lead after the opening day at Royal Porthcawl (Nigel French/PA) She had won her first at the Women's Scottish Open last weekend, a remarkable success coming on the back of victory at the Irish Open and a tied-third finish in The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur. Woad, playing alongside the last two Open champions Lydia Ko and Lillia Vu, drew large galleries on the South Wales links and showed battling qualities despite not playing her best golf. Ko signed for a 73 and Vu 74 as Woad had 10 pars, four birdies and four bogeys in tough conditions. Woad drained a 20-foot putt to birdie the opening hole, but found a greenside bunker at the third and dropped a shot after failing to keep her chip on the green. Another shot went at the fifth, but Woad holed a long-range putt at the sixth to get back to par. A birdie for Lottie Woad… She's already making moves at Royal Porthcawl 👀 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) July 31, 2025 Wayward tee shots at the 11th and 15th cost Woad further strokes, but a fine approach to the 14th produced a birdie and another to loud cheers came at the par-five 18th. 'I knew I had to get back to even,' Woad told Sky Sports. 'I'm off early (on Friday) and I'll just try a get a good score together. 'It's a great test, definitely challenges you. If you hit a bad shot you're going to be punished.' Rhodes played in the 2024 Curtis Cup before turning professional and has enjoyed a spectacular year on the Ladies European Tour with three victories. England's Mimi Rhodes put herself into contention at the AIG Women's Open with an opening round of 69 (Nigel French/PA) The 23-year-old from Bath added an eagle at the ninth to four birdies for a fine three-under par score of 69 to share fourth place. Rhodes said: 'I've had a few up and down weeks in the last few weeks, so I'm really happy to be striking it well and putting at my best again. 'I was coming in fresh and open-minded, it was so fun to have so many friends and family here supporting me.' Japanese players dominated the top of the leaderboard with Takeda and Okayama firing 67s and Miyu Yamashita recording five birdies and an eagle in a round of 68. Darcey Harry delivers! A birdie from the home favourite and the fans at Royal Porthcawl are loving every second. 🏴 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) July 31, 2025 Three more Japanese players – Chisato Iwai, Mao Saigo and Shiho Kuwaki – were in a big bunch of players on 69. World number one Nelly Korda and home favourite Darcey Harry, from nearby Penarth and a Royal Porthcawl member, were in a group at two under-par. Georgia Hall, the 2018 Open champion, shot a one-under par 70 and fellow English player Charley Hull carded a topsy-turvy 73. Hull recovered from a double bogey six at the second, and being three-over through three, with five birdies in six holes. Four consecutive bogeys on the back nine dropped her down the field but a birdie at the 18th moved her within seven shots of the leaders.
North Wales Chronicle
11 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Lottie Woad five shots off pace after AIG Women's Open first round
Surrey sensation Woad carded a level-par 72 at a blustery Royal Porthcawl on a day the 21-year-old sensation was under huge scrutiny and Mimi Rhodes shot 69 to finish as the top English player. Woad entered the final major of the year as tournament favourite, despite this being only her second event as a professional. She had won her first at the Women's Scottish Open last weekend, a remarkable success coming on the back of victory at the Irish Open and a tied-third finish in The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur. Woad, playing alongside the last two Open champions Lydia Ko and Lillia Vu, drew large galleries on the South Wales links and showed battling qualities despite not playing her best golf. Ko signed for a 73 and Vu 74 as Woad had 10 pars, four birdies and four bogeys in tough conditions. Woad drained a 20-foot putt to birdie the opening hole, but found a greenside bunker at the third and dropped a shot after failing to keep her chip on the green. Another shot went at the fifth, but Woad holed a long-range putt at the sixth to get back to par. A birdie for Lottie Woad… She's already making moves at Royal Porthcawl 👀 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) July 31, 2025 Wayward tee shots at the 11th and 15th cost Woad further strokes, but a fine approach to the 14th produced a birdie and another to loud cheers came at the par-five 18th. 'I knew I had to get back to even,' Woad told Sky Sports. 'I'm off early (on Friday) and I'll just try a get a good score together. 'It's a great test, definitely challenges you. If you hit a bad shot you're going to be punished.' Rhodes played in the 2024 Curtis Cup before turning professional and has enjoyed a spectacular year on the Ladies European Tour with three victories. The 23-year-old from Bath added an eagle at the ninth to four birdies for a fine three-under par score of 69 to share fourth place. Rhodes said: 'I've had a few up and down weeks in the last few weeks, so I'm really happy to be striking it well and putting at my best again. 'I was coming in fresh and open-minded, it was so fun to have so many friends and family here supporting me.' Japanese players dominated the top of the leaderboard with Takeda and Okayama firing 67s and Miyu Yamashita recording five birdies and an eagle in a round of 68. Darcey Harry delivers! A birdie from the home favourite and the fans at Royal Porthcawl are loving every second. 🏴 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) July 31, 2025 Three more Japanese players – Chisato Iwai, Mao Saigo and Shiho Kuwaki – were in a big bunch of players on 69. World number one Nelly Korda and home favourite Darcey Harry, from nearby Penarth and a Royal Porthcawl member, were in a group at two under-par. Georgia Hall, the 2018 Open champion, shot a one-under par 70 and fellow English player Charley Hull carded a topsy-turvy 73. Hull recovered from a double bogey six at the second, and being three-over through three, with five birdies in six holes. Four consecutive bogeys on the back nine dropped her down the field but a birdie at the 18th moved her within seven shots of the leaders.
