Miyu Yamashita Holds Off Charley Hull Challenge To Win AIG Women's Open And Claim First Major

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the AIG Women's Open final round at Royal Porthcawl.

Japan's Miyu Yamashita has extended her one-stroke lead to two since today's action began and is currently on 10-under, with her closest challenger no longer playing partner, A Lim Kim but England's Charley Hull on eight-under.

Away from the leaders, we've also had an ace from Mimi Rhodes and amateur star, Paula Martin Sampedro is making her presence known inside the top-10.

Thank you for joining me. I'll bring you all of the key updates as they happen until a champion is crowned in blustery conditions later on today!

HULL TO WITHIN ONE

The gap from Hull to Yamashita is now just one stroke as the English chaser begins the ninth. Hull has just birdied the par-3 eighth - adding to a gain at the par-3 fifth - to make it three birdies in four holes.

BRILLIANT

Further down the par-5 ninth than Hull, Rio Takeda faces an awkward bunker shot into the wind. However, she produces a brilliant strike to fly it all the way and spin her ball back past the hole. That should be a comfortable birdie for the Japanese pro.

BAD TIME FOR A BOGEY

There does often seem to be one player in the final group or groups who suffers something of a disaster in the fourth round, and that appears as though it will be A Lim Kim. The Korean three putts the seventh to fall back to six-under - that's four strokes off the leader, Yamashita.

ANOTHER HOLE CLOSER

Yamashita knocks her par putt in at the seventh to remain at 10-under as Rio Takeda misses her close birdie putt at the ninth. Given the wind out there today, the shorter putts are certainly not a given.

THROWING DARTS

Yamashita could be about to move two strokes clear as she fires an absolute dart just to the left of the hole at the par-3 eighth. A Lim Kim is also in tight, with the Korean in desperate need of a switch in momentum.

Not far ahead, Hull slings a hybrid around from right to left at the ninth and will have a 50-yard pitch shot for her third at the par-5 hole. A birdie might be required if Yamashita holes out, as she is expected to, in order to maintain that one-stroke gap.

BIG BIRDIE

A Lim Kim bounces back immediately with a tidy eight-foot birdie putt at the par-3 eighth. She is up to seven-under.

Also grabbing the second birdie of her final round is Miyu Yamashita, who confidently rolls home from five feet at most. The Japanese player is up to 11-under while Hull - who misses her birdie putt from 15 feet - stays at nine-under.

KATSU MOVES UP

Minami Katsu took a while to line up her birdie putt at the ninth, but it was worth the wait as she rattled her ball into the centre of the cup from 15 feet or so. Katsu is up to seven-under and four back as she makes the turn.

Her playing partner, Andrea Lee thumps her own 10-foot birdie putt but watches it lip out. That was struck too firmly, you have to feel.

HULL IN CLOSE

At the 10th, Charley Hull hammers a great drive down the middle of the fairway and is able to generate a fantastic look at birdie as a result, landing her ball just past the flag and spinning it back to inside eight feet.

SMYTH SALVER WINNER

Congratulations to this year's Smyth Salver winner, Paula Martin Sampedro. The Spanish amateur signed for a 67 to end on four-under, which - as it stands - will be enough for a top-10 and a return visit to the AIG Women's Open in 2026.

MISSED CHANCE

Hull can't quite find the target and she will have to make do with a par at the 10th. Her putt was only just OK for pace, but it wiggled a touch right in terms of line.

Someone who did not struggle for accuracy is Rio Takeda. The Japanese player is up into a share of fifth after another birdie at the 11th. She seems to be dialled in with putter in hand today.

A LIM KIM GAINING

The South Korean plays the par-5 ninth in textbook style, eventually sinking her 10-foot birdie putt to move up to eight-under and in solo third.

YAMASHITA TAKES CONTROL

The AIG Women's Open leader found the front edge of the green at the ninth in two, which is surprising given she is one of the shorter hitters in the field. Nevertheless, Yamashita takes advantage of the situation by two-putting her way into the hole and reaching 12-under. She is now three strokes clear with nine holes to play...

STRONG PAR SAVE

Hull found the centre of the fairway at the 11th but missed the green from well inside 100 yards - it was a really poor shot. But from off the left side of the green, Hull gave herself a look at par and made it to stay within three strokes as Yamashita pars the 10th.

NOT GIVING UP

Charley Hull hasn't made as many birdie putts as she'd like so far today, but she'll have another chance at the 12th after drawing a lovely 9-iron in towards the flag at the par-3.

Not long before, A Lim Kim passed up her chance to make three birdies in a row when she marginally pulled her close-range putt at the 10th.

HISTORY TO REPEAT?

Yamashita has birdied the 11th two out of three times so far this week, and it's not out of the realms of possibility that she makes it three from four after a good drive down the 350-yard hole. However, it will be tough given her drive ended in the first cut on the left side with ball just below her feet.

HULL FINDS ANOTHER

Hull is doing all she can to reel Yamashita back in. The English star produces a brilliant birdie putt at the 12th to reach four-under for the day. Bogey-free, might I add. Over to you, Miyu...

NO BIRDIE FOR YAMASHITA

Yamashita couldn't do anything more than find the centre of the putting surface at the 11th, but her birdie try was quite tame up the slope and into the wind. The Japanese player will have a tap-in, more or less, for par.

Meanwhole, playing partner, A Lim Kim sends her ball on a full 360-degree tour of the hole to save par from 12 feet or so. The Korean celebrates by rolling her neck towards her caddie, just like the ball did around the edge of the hole.

BUNKER TROUBLE

Following a superb drive down the left side of the par-5 13th, Hull fails to cut her approach sufficiently and sends her ball into the front-left bunker. Because it's located at such an awkward distance and given the speed her ball went in, Hull might not be able to reach the putting surface from there...

CHANCE GONE

Yamashita can't quite snatch a birdie at the 11th, but no harm is done after tapping in for par.

Ahead, Hull swipes her ball out of the bunker and on to the green, but she's looking at a two-putt par. Not what she needs when two back down the back nine on Sunday.

OFF TARGET

Yamashita stands on the tee at the par-5 13th knowing a gain here could be crucial towards her chances of victory. She rifles one down the fairway, but it bounds along before rolling into a fairway bunker down the left. Lie dependent, but this could be the twist the home fans were looking for.

WOAD FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH

The woman of the hour, Lottie Woad finds a brilliant birdie on the par-5 18th to sneak into the top-10. It hasn't been the week she might have wanted, but Woad can be really proud of a second consecutive top-10 at the AIG Women's Open if the cards fall in her favor down the stretch.

POWERS OF RECOVERY

Hull fires a 6-iron out of the wispy rough down the right of the 14th and finds the dancefloor to potentially escape with a par. She does have a birdie look as well.

Just before Hull struck that, there was a really interesting conversation between her and caddie, Adam Woodward. They were deciding between a 7-iron and a 6-iron. Luckily, they decided to run out a six. Good decision.

A hole behind, Yamashita could only clip her ball out of the bunker and is left with 262 yards on the 560-yard par 5. From there, the Japanese player drew a hammered 3-wood down into a little valley to the left of the green. It's a tough position to be in with the ball below her feet, but Yamashita could still escape with a par.

TURNING POINT

Is this the moment? Charlie Hull drives a perfect putt from 25-30 feet right against the flag stick and it drops into the hole. The crowd roars with delight and Hull allows herself a beaming smile. She's in her element.

Meanwhile, Yamashita is in a mild spot of trouble at the 13th...

RISK DOESN'T PAY OFF

Yamashita opts to take out her most-lofted wedge and go upstairs with her fourth shot. It doesn't pay off and she's left with 15 feet or more for par. This is the sort of par save that champions make. If she can do it, it would be a dagger to Hull's chances.

Meanwhile, A Lim Kim is millimetres away with an eagle putt. She taps in for birdie to reach nine-under and remain part of the conversation.

WHAT CHAMPIONS DO

Wow, what a response from Yamashita! A potential disaster is avoided after the leader confidently pours in the par save from mid-range. That didn't dribble in, by the way, it sailed in. A great putt sees Yamashita stay one shot in front with five to play.

OFF-TARGET

In the past few minutes, A Lim Kim and Charley Hull have just wobbled slightly. Hull finds a fairway bunker at the 16th while A Lim Kim did the same at the 14th. However, Kim tried to be too aggressive out of the sand and is now playing out of the thick rough from just inside 200 yards. Meanwhile, Yamashita is on the front edge of the 14th green in two.

BIG TROUBLE

As quickly as Hull had hauled herself back into this, it might all be falling apart moments later. Her bunker shot sailed out to the right in the rough and that made it really tough to control down wind. Hull's approach rolls out through the back from 115 yards and leaves her with an up-and-down for bogey.

CLUTCH PUTTING

Whenever Yamashita puts herself in a tight spot, that white-hot putter digs her out of it. A heavy-handed putt at the 14th left Yamashita with around six feet for par. But, unperturbed, the leader sinks it successfully.

HOPE SPRINGS

What a bogey for Charley Hull! These two champions are going head to head down the back nine - it is an enthralling watch.

Facing a downhill chip, Hull's fourth shot was tentative. Left with 15 feet or so, maybe more, the English player judged her putt to perfection and saw the ball drop in the left side. Hull is back to 10-under, two shots back with two holes to play.

LAST-CHANCE SALOON

Hull needs two birdies at the very least to concern Yamashita (if that's even possible), but she hasn't made the best start. The Solheim Cup star draws an iron off the tee with a helping wind out of the right and watches her tee shot roll into the rough. Finding the green from there will be tough, although not impossible.

RUNNING OUT OF STEAM

Hull had a decent lie in the rough with the grass going with her, but the English star can't hold the green from just inside 200 yards and will find her ball in the first cut when she arrives up there. It's not impossible to make birdie from there, but it is unlikely. Hull is probably going to need Yamashita to make mistakes coming in, and they just haven't looked at all likely today.

VICTORY PARADE

As A Lim Kim bogeys the 15th to fall behind Minami Katsu at eight-under, Yamashita just fails with a birdie putt at the par-3 15th. It's no matter, as the Japanese star can tap in and tick off another hole.

On the 16th hole that Hull's challenge may have passed away on, Yamashita thumps her drive right down Broadway. That's in the ideal spot.

GAME OVER

Hull opts to putt from the fringe instead of chipping, but it doesn't pay off as she is left with a tricky 6-8 foot par putt. Hull then pulls her fourth stroke wide of the hole and will drop back to nine-under for the championship via a second bogey in a row. Before the 16th, Hull hadn't made one today.

NEAR HOLE OUT

It hasn't gone A Lim Kim's way today, but the South Korean almost holes out from off the 16th fairway via a delicate little chip towards the flag. As it is, the ball came to rest a few feet away and that should be a comfortable par.

PERFECT FRONT-RUNNING

Yamashita finds the centre of the fairway off the tee at 16 and then floats her approach into the back-left quarter of the green. She's doing the right thing here - fairways and greens. The Japanese champion-elect almost adds a little icing to her cake via a long-range bomb, but it somehow misses the cup. Nevermind - a par it is and she stays three ahead with two holes to play.

PERFECT YAMASHITA

Yamashita has not made a bogey all day today - a seriously impressive feat given the breeze out there. Should she stay without a blemish on the card, Yamashita would become the first winner to card a bogey-free final round since Jiyai Shin in 2008.

Credit to Justin Ray for the stat.

COMMENTATOR'S CURSE

I don't think I'm fully guilty of cursing Yamashita, I merely passed on the message from Justin Ray. But the front-runner is in a little bit of trouble at the 17th.

She hit a horrible tee shot and left herself over 230 yards to the pin at the par-4. The next shot was pulled into the left rough once more and Yamashita is short-sided, needing an up-and-down to remain bogey-free. Up ahead, Hull has a birdie chance at the 18th to reach 10-under.

A TESTER TO COME

Yamashita digs a decent chip onto the green, but it's an awkward length still for par. Maybe 10 feet.

HULL SIGNS FOR A TWO-UNDER 69

Hull's birdie putt is left from the get-go and she will knock in for par to add a fourth runner-up finish at a Major. This wasn't a case of Hull losing it, however, she did really well to stay aggressive for as long as she did. It was just that Yamashita was better.

FIRST BOGEY

Yamashita makes her first bogey of the day at the 17th hole to reduce her lead from three strokes to two. However, The 18th is a par 5 which is playing under par, so the chances of another mistake seems very slim at this point. Although, as we have seen several times over the years, the 72nd hole of a Major does funny things to world-class golfers...

SAFE PLAY

Miyu Yamashita is a little under 500 yards from victory, and she is erring on the side of caution off the tee - understandably - aiming down the left and ending in the rough.

KATSU CATCHES HULL

Minami Katsu has not been mentioned an awful lot today. Mainly because she was just outside of having a realistic chance of catching Yamashita for most of her final round. But a birdie at the last - helping her up to nine-under - has catapulted her into a share of second and represents a brilliant display at the AIG Women's Open.

DICING WITH DANGER

From 226 yards and with an excellent lie in the rough, Yamashita draws the ball off the two bunkers short of the green and leaves it in the rough once more - some 50 yards away. That did seem a strange play with the possibility of a nightmare lie in the sand, but she's earned her luck today has Yamashita.

NEARLY AN EAGLE

Oh! Almost a stunner to end from A Lim Kim, and she would thoroughly deserve it. The Korean flighted a pitch shot towards the flag and watched it zip immediately to the right, almost dropping in. As it is, she'll knock that in for a birdie and a happy end to a largely frustrating day.

PUTT TO WIN

Yamashita knocks a tidy wedge shot down to the right level of the green from 45 yards or so and she will have multiple putts to win it from 15 feet. The way she's putted today, though, she will likely only need one...

MIYU YAMASHITA WINS 2025 AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

Yamashita just pushes her birdie putt to the right before knocking in for par and being mobbed by half a dozen of her compatriots and a bucketload of champagne. Yamashita is hit by the emotion of her achievement as she walks off the green, bowing to all sides on the way off. A class act and a worthy champion, for sure.

THE WINNING MOMENT

STRIKE A POSE

Here is AIG Women's Open champion, Miyu Yamashita with her trophy.

And as an aside, I'd like to give a shout out to one hell of a sweater. I'm a huge fan.

TROPHY LIFT