2025 AIG Women's British Open second round recap: Can anyone catch Miyu Yamashita?
The 2025 AIG Women's British Open is being held this year at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, as Lydia Ko is the defending champion after claiming the Women's British Open a year ago at St. Andrews. Here's a full recap of the events that transpired during Friday's second round:
Can anyone catch Miyu Yamashita?
Miyu Yamashita took advantage of a comfortable pairing with compatriot Rio Takeda and calmer conditions to shoot a sparkling 7-under 65 and vault to a three-stroke lead at Royal Porthcawl. Takeda, a rookie who has already won twice on the LPGA, sits in solo second, three shots back.
There was a two-shot difference between the two waves at the AIG Women's British Open, with those playing late/early in the first two rounds getting the better draw.
"Crazy," said Megan Khang of Yamashita's 11-under total.
The petite Yamashita, a 13-time winner on the JLPGA, won LPGA Q-School last December to earn her card.
"My dad is here, so I'd like to work on any areas I need to improve," she said after the round. "He says my swing isn't bad, and I also want to keep my rhythm."
Yamashita, who noted that it's rare for Japanese players to be grouped together on the LPGA, has yet to win on that tour but is ranked 15th in the world. Takeda is ranked 12th. So far this season, no player ranked inside the top 20 coming into an event has won an LPGA major. Should that trend continue this week, it would be a first since the rankings began in 2006.
An eight-time winner on the JLPGA, Takeda tied for second at the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills earlier this year and is making her second British Open appearance.
"I was able to play calmly today," said Takeda, "and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow."
Three players hold a share of third at 4 under, seven strokes back of the lead. That trio includes Lindy Duncan, who lost in a playoff earlier this year at the Chevron Championship.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Lottie Woad are part of a large pack at 2 under that also includes Porthcawl member Darcey Harry.
Jeeno Thitikul, the best player in women's golf without a major, suffered a triple-bogey on the par-3 15th to drop to 1 under, 10 shots back.
"I think everything can happen, especially (on a) links course," said Thitikul, who lost in a playoff to Grace Kim at the Amundi Evian last month.
Jeeno Thitikul manages to stay under par despite triple
World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul got to 4 under until she found herself in the deepest of deep bunkers on the par-3 15th. After failing to get out the first time, Thitikul went out sideways and proceeded to make a triple-bogey six. Three pars coming in gave her a 1-over 73 to finish at 1 under for the tournament, 10 shots back of leader Miyu Yamashita.
Overnight leader Eri Okayama struggles
Eri Okayama is now 6 over through 10 holes. The JLPGA veteran began the day with five bogeys in the first six holes. She mentioned after an opening 67 that her early success came as a surprise given recent struggles with her back that forced a layoff.
She's currently 1 over for the tournament, 12 back of leader Miyu Yamashita.
Final qualifier Fuenfstueck hanging tough
Germany's Laura Fünfstück, 30, has a long way to go playing in the last group on the course, but she's hanging strong at 3 under through 5 holes. Fünfstück played collegiately at the College of Charleston and has been a staple on the LET for several years, turning pro in 2018.
Currently 3 under for the tournament, Fünfstück advanced through Final Qualifying on Monday to earn her spot.
Big names bunched at 2 under at Royal Porthcawl
Jeeno Thitikul and Minjee Lee make the turn at 2 under, joining a host of marquee names in the same position, currently T-13. Nelly Korda, Lottie Woad and Porthcawl member Darcey Harry are among those already in the clubhouse at 2 under.
They'll need some help from Miyu Yamashita, who leads at 11 under, to have a chance to contend over the weekend.
A victory here would give Lee, winner of the recent KPMG Women's PGA, the career grand slam.
Nasa Hataoka starts strong in the wind
As the afternoon gusts pick up at Porthcawl, Nasa Hataoka began a rare charge up the board. The Japanese veteran made three consecutive birdies on Nos. 7-9 to turn in 31. A bogey on the 10th dropped her back a bit. Now 2 under for the week, Hataoka is in a log jam at T-11.
With nine top-10 career finishes in the majors, Hataoka has yet to win one.
Woad finishes the day nine back at British Open
A disappointing par on the closing par 5 gave Lottie Woad a 2-under 70 on the day. Given her six birdies in the first 14 holes, it's not the momentum she looked to carry into the weekend. Woad, the betting favorite, now sits at 2 under for the tournament, trailing leader Miyu Yamashita by nine strokes.
After hitting only 11 greens in the first round, Woad hit 16 greens on Friday.
Playing partners Lydia Ko (2 over) and Lilia Vu (7 over) will likely not make the cut at Porthcawl.
Disaster for Lottie Woad on the 16th
A missed shot off the tee for Lottie Woad on the par-4 16th went from bad to worse when her shot out of the long stuff sunk further down into an unplayable lie. She hit her fifth from a dirt path and then two-putted for a triple-bogey. It's worth noting that the putt for triple was a testy one, too.
The miscue plummeted Woad down the board to a share of 16th at 2 under, nine back of leader Miyu Yamashita.
Lottie Woad delighting the crowds at Porthcawl
Englishwoman Lottie Woad drained her sixth birdie of the day on the 14th to get to 5 under for the tournament and in a share of fourth. The 22-year-old still trails leader Miyu Yamashita by six strokes after the Japanese player carded a brilliant 7-under 65 on Friday to take the clubhouse lead at 11 under.
This marks Yamashita's fourth appearance in the British Open, with her best finish, a T-13, coming at Muirfield in her 2022 debut. Today's 65 marks her best score in the championship.
Aussie ace at Royal Porthcawl
Steph Kyriacou finished out her front nine at Royal Porthcawl in style with an ace on the par-3 eighth from 105 yards and a birdie on the ninth to shoot 33 on the front side. The ball flew straight into the hole. It marked the Aussie's first ace on the LPGA.
After a dropped shot on the 10th, she's back to even par for the tournament.
Miyu Yamashita charging hard at Women's British
After a front-nine 33, Miyu Yamashita birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine to get to 6 under on the day. At 10 under, she's three shot clear of the field with compatriot Rio Takeda at 7 under, 2 under on the day.
Englishwoman Lottie Woad is making her way up the leaderboard after four birdies on her last seven holes. She's 3 under for the tournament and in a share of 10th.
What are the tee times for the second round of the Women's British Open?
The first group is off at 1:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. local time). All the second-round tee times can be found here.
Who's in the field at the 2025 Women's British Open?
It's a stacked tee sheet at Royal Portcawl in Wales with all 20 LPGA winners, including the winners of the first four LPGA majors in 2025, as well as 11 past champions ready to compete. All of the top 25 in the Rolex Rankings are there, including No. 1 Nelly Korda, No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, No. 3 Lydia Ko, No. 4 Ruoning Yin and No. 5 Minjee Lee.
What is the field, format for the 2025 Women's British Open?
The field will be 144 players with the low 65 and ties after 36 holes advancing to the third and final rounds. The format is 72 holes of stroke play.
What is the prize money for the 2025 Women's British Open?
The total purse at the AIG is $9.75 million with the winner taking home $1.4625 million, a new high in the event's history. 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.