Charley Hull came agonizingly close to ending her wait for a major championship victory, but it was Japan’s Miyu Yamashita who held firm to win the Women’s Open 2025 at Royal Porthcawl. Yamashita finished 11 under par, two shots clear of Hull, who mounted a thrilling final-round charge but ultimately fell short.
Hull’s performance was nothing short of heroic given the circumstances. She arrived in Wales struggling with her game and recovering from illness, having collapsed during her previous event at the Evian Championship. Her expectations were modest, admitting she wasn’t even confident of making the cut. But once competition began, she found her rhythm and put together a spirited run, demonstrating her trademark aggressive style and fearless iron play.
After finding herself 11 shots off the lead at the halfway mark, Hull began her final round with three front-nine birdies to close the gap. When Yamashita birdied the 8th and 9th holes while Hull could only manage pars, the lead stretched again. Despite the setback, Hull remained relentless. A brilliant birdie on the 12th followed by another at the 14th brought her back into contention. However, a bogey on the 16th, after finding a bunker off the tee, proved costly.
Yamashita, meanwhile, showed composure beyond her years. Despite some pressure from Hull, she made a clutch long-range par save on the 13th and stayed solid through the final stretch. Her swing was smooth and unflappable, and even under gusty conditions, she never looked overwhelmed. The win came a day after her 24th birthday, making her the third Japanese golfer to win this tournament and the second since it gained major status.
Behind the leading duo, Minami Katsu tied Hull’s score but was never in serious contention. South Korea’s Kim A-lim and Japan’s Rio Takeda shared fourth place at seven under par. English rising star Lottie Woad capped her breakthrough week with a top-10 finish. Coming off a win in the Scottish Open, her debut as a professional, Woad handled the increased spotlight with maturity and composure, setting the stage for a promising career on the LPGA Tour.
