Several of Australia’s top hopes are off to strong starts at the final women’s golf major of the year as Japanese players dominated the leaderboard after the first round of the Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.
World No.12 Rio Takeda and 139th-ranked Eri Okayama shared the lead on five under par, striking matching 67s on the Welsh coast as compatriot Miyu Yamashita finished a single shot adrift.
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Minjee Lee leads the early Aussie charge at the Women’s British Open golf championship, at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Porthcawl, Wales, Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Source: AP
A large group of players were at three under par on a congested leaderboard as three Australians went under par.
Minjee Lee, who won the Women’s PGA Championship in June and is chasing the final piece of a career grand slam, also finished with a two-under 70, her round including sinking a monster birdie putt on the par-3 15th hole.
Lee battled some wild and windy morning conditions and was satisfied with a round that featured three bogeys and five birdies.
“I don’t think I’m going to complain with a two-under start,” Lee told AAP.
“Some of the holes are just beasts out there.
“Sometimes you’ve got to take what you get and just make a bogey and get out of there and reset, try and make better score on the next hole.“It’s a major championship. You’’re going to make bogeys. Just try to keep your emotions in check and take it one shot at a time.”
Fellow Australian Grace Kim, who triumphed at the recent Evian Championship, is a further shot back at one under par, alongside compatriot Gabriela Ruffels who also carded a 71.
Takeda, 22, bounced back strongly from a double-bogey seven at the ninth with four birdies down the stretch while Okayama opened with a bogey five before sinking six birdies.
Defending champion Lydia Ko finished one over while world number one Nelly Korda is three off the lead after a two-under 70, finishing with a birdie after nine straight pars.
“I had a double bogey today, but I was able to quickly change my mindset and it was good that I was able to do that,” said Takeda.
“Other than that, I was able to save par and make some birdie putts, so I played very consistently.” Okayama’s 67 was particularly impressive as she has been troubled by a back injury in recent months.
Rio Takeda of Japan competes during the first round of the Women’s British Open golf championship, at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Porthcawl, Wales, Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Source: AP
“I’ve hurt my back a few times this year, within the last month or so, and since then I’ve had to take a break from domestic tournaments,” said the 29-year-old.
“I’ve barely been able to practise up until this point. I never expected to finish in this position.”
Pre-tournament favourite Lottie Woad, playing at her first major as a professional, ended her round on level par, upstaged by English compatriot Mimi Rhodes, who finished her round two off the lead.
“It’s one of those rounds that could have got away from me so I am happy I hung in there,” said Woad, fresh from winning the Women’s Scottish Open last week.
The rest of the Australians in the field were over par with Stephanie Kyriacou (+2), Kirsten Rudgeley (+6), Hira Naveed (+6) Cassie Porter (+7) and world No.11 Hannah Green (+7) needing big second rounds to avoid missing the cut.