When the pressure peaked at Royal Porthcawl, nerves of steel separated champions from heartbreak in the final major of 2025

When Miyu Yamashita’s final putt dropped on the 18th green at Royal Porthcawl, the tears flowed instantly. The 24-year-old from Osaka had just captured her first major championship, finishing at 11-under par to win the AIG Women’s Open by two shots over England’s Charley Hull and fellow Japanese player Minami Katsu. What made it even sweeter? She had celebrated her birthday just one day earlier on Saturday, making this victory the ultimate belated gift.

A Dream Named Beautiful

Miyu’s first name literally means “beautiful dream” in Japanese, and on Sunday, she made her own dream a reality. This wasn’t just any victory – it marked both her first major title and first win on the LPGA Tour, which she only joined this year after earning her card by winning Q-Series last fall. The former JLPGA star, who won 13 times on that circuit and was Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023, finally translated her dominance to the global stage.

Hull’s Heartbreak and Historic Charge

Charley Hull made things incredibly interesting, threatening what would have been the biggest 36-hole comeback in women’s major history. The Englishwoman was 11 shots behind at halfway but roared back with weekend rounds of 66 and 69. Hull got within one shot of the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole, sending the Welsh crowds into a frenzy. But golf can be cruel – back-to-back bogeys on 16 and 17 derailed her charge, including hitting into a pot bunker off the tee at 16. This marked Hull’s fourth runner-up finish in majors, extending her wait for that elusive first major title.

Clutch Under Pressure

What separated Yamashita from the field was her composure when it mattered most. She holed two massive par putts on the back nine – the most crucial coming when Hull had closed to within one shot. After struggling with her driver during Saturday’s third round 74, Yamashita spent a long evening on the range with her father (who serves as her instructor) working out the kinks. The fix worked perfectly – she was nearly flawless on Sunday until making her only bogey of the day on the 17th hole.

Japanese Golf’s Golden Era Continues

This victory continues an incredible run for Japanese women’s golf – four different Japanese players have now won the last nine majors. Yamashita becomes the fourth Japanese player to win a major over the past two seasons, joining Mao Saigo (who won the Chevron Championship earlier this year), Ayaka Furue, and Yuka Saso. The celebration on the 18th green was pure joy as fellow Japanese players Katsu, Rio Takeda, Furue, and Saigo ran onto the green spraying champagne bottles.

The Numbers That Matter

Yamashita’s victory earned her a whopping $1.462 million from the record $9.75 million prize purse. She’ll also jump from 15th to inside the top 10 in the Rolex Rankings when they update Monday. Perhaps most impressively, this extends the LPGA’s streak of having no repeat winners through 20 tournaments to start the season – proving just how competitive women’s golf has become.