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<\/p>\nPORTHCAWL, WALES \u2013 It was both rain and shine on the first day of the Women\u2019s Open at Royal Porthcawl.<\/p>\n
Luckily for the 144-strong field, there was more sunshine than rain showers as they competed for a pot of gold, which has gotten bigger this year. Whoever can tame what is already proving to be a wild and windy course will now take home an improved paycheck of $1.46 million, a 15 per cent share of the $9.75 million prize purse.<\/p>\n
It was a robust showing for Japan on Thursday, with three Japanese players on top and six in the top 13 at the end of play. Eri Okayama was the first player into the clubhouse after registering a round of 67 to put herself 5-under-par.<\/p>\n
Rio Takeda, who co-led the first round of the U.S. Open in May, had a double bogey at nine but still ended the day tied for first, with a birdie at the last putting her next to Okayama. Women\u2019s Open debutant Shiho Kuwaki (-3) kicked things off as the initial clubhouse leader. The 22-year-old smiled her way around the course and said the atmosphere helped her play with joy.<\/p>\n
There aren\u2019t many live scoreboards dotted around the course, but the Japanese contingent inspired each other when catching sight of the red and white flags, which resembled a bullet-point list by the end of play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe weather was good so I think that helped me out,\u201d Chisato Iwai, who is among the pack tied for fourth, two shots back of the leaders. \u201cI also looked at the leaderboard and saw that Japanese runners were at the top so I decided to do my best too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chevron Championship winner Mao Saigo is also at 3-under, as is Miyu Yamashita.<\/p>\n
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Rio Takeda is back on top of a leaderboard at a major. (Warren Little \/ Getty Images)Crowds follow the stars<\/p>\n
The trio who attracted the biggest crowd to the first hole as they took to the tee box just before 1pm were defending champions Lydia Ko, 2023 winner Lilia Vu and the golfer everyone is talking about, Lottie Woad, fresh from her Scottish Open victory last weekend.<\/p>\n
The group got off to a collectively fast start by each producing a birdie at the first time of asking but all eventually finished above par. With 50 players under or at even par after the first round, the three will need to go lower on Friday to make the cut. The top 65 and ties will play the weekend at Royal Porthcawl.<\/p>\n
Trouble for Charley Hull<\/p>\n
The first four holes can be brutal and caught a few off guard. Perhaps British fan favourite Charley Hull\u2019s scorecard (1-over) summed up the trials and tribulations golfers endure on the course stowed along Rest Bay.<\/p>\n
Hull, 29, is chasing what would be a maiden major win. After she double bogeyed the second and was one shot over on the third, it looked like it could be a long day looking out to the Celtic Sea. But she rallied and just like the afternoon rain which sprinkled over the greens, so too did her birdie run on the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes to bring her into early contention. Hull, who fainted and withdrew from the Evian Championship on the first day, struggled to hold her form when arriving on the back nine. Bogeys on holes Nos. 14-17 followed, before a birdie at 18.<\/p>\n
Shot of the day<\/p>\n
Yamashita stepped up to the par-3 5th, playing from 212 yards out and had one of just six birdies on the day at the hole. But what made it the shot of the day was just how close she was to an ace.<\/p>\n
Miyu Yamashita with the\u00a0AIG Shot of the Day on the 5th hole. pic.twitter.com\/JSdd75CAkX<\/a><\/p>\n