Staff WriterAt the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, Royal Porthcawl didn’t roll out the red carpet so much as it rolled in the weather. The wind came in sideways, the rough looked like it had a grudge, and the bunkers might as well have had warning signs.
But amid the chaos, two names shone brighter than the Welsh coastline on a rare sunny day: Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda.
The Japanese duo are turning the season’s final major into their own private showcase, with Yamashita leading at 11-under after a flawless bogey-free second round of 65—her best score in a major this season and tied for the lowest of her career.
It’s also the first time she’s opened the AIG Women’s Open with back-to-back rounds in the 60s since 2022, back when she wasn’t even an LPGA member.
She now has 11 birdies through 36 holes, hit 13 of 14 fairways, 14 greens in regulation, and needed just 26 putts on Friday. In other words, she played Royal Porthcawl like it was a Sunday afternoon round with no wind and a good playlist.
“So, obviously I knew there was going to be a lot of wind around this golf course,” Yamashita said after her round. “It was going to be quite a difficult course to get around, so it’s something that my caddie and I have talked about in recent weeks to just make sure we’re prepared in the best way possible.”
Prepared? She looked like she was born on links turf. The 23-year-old rookie leads the LPGA Tour with six top 10s this season and over $1 million in prize money. A 13-time winner on the JLPGA, she’s second in the Rookie of the Year standings and may soon be first if she keeps this up.
Not far behind—both in score and stride—is Takeda, three shots adrift at eight-under after a second-round 69 that included an eagle at the 9th, her ninth of the season. She’s needed just 54 putts through two rounds, tied for third-fewest in the field.
“My first shots today weren’t going fairway, but I ended up going under par and getting a good birdie, so I’m happy,” Takeda said. “The eagle putt was close, so I’m glad I was able to get an eagle. I was able to play calmly today.”
“Calm” might be an understatement. After her nervy double at the 6th, Takeda bounced back like a player who’s already got eight wins on the JLPGA under her belt and a runner-up finish at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.
While Yamashita and Takeda are treating Royal Porthcawl like it owes them something, the chasing pack is six names deep and four-under the benchmark.
Chiara Tamburlini, playing just her second AIG Women’s Open and coming off a 12-over showing in 2024, finds herself tied for third after a gutsy 69 that featured an eagle and three birdies. She’s finally warming up to links golf—begrudgingly.
“I don’t want to say love-hate relationship because it’s more of a hate relationship with links golf,” Tamburlini admitted. “I think I’m just kind of learning to see a few different shots… It’s more about seeing and feeling it than a number really.”
Pajaree Anannarukarn also finds herself at four-under, with six birdies on her Friday card and her best 36-hole score at a major this year. “I wasn’t really thinking about scoring… I think I was just really proud of how I fought out there,” she said.
Lindy Duncan, who last played this major in 2023 and finished T56, is back in the mix with a six-birdie round of 70. She leads the field in fewest bogeys (just one) and fewest putts (a stingy 52). Her strategy? “There are kind of safer misses,” she said with a shrug. “Miss left, chip close, walk off.”
Laura Fuenfstueck rounds out the group at four-under. Her first two rounds are the only ones she’s ever posted in the 60s at this event—and she’s bagged 10 birdies to just four bogeys in the process.
And what of the big names?
World No.1 Nelly Korda made the cut—again. That’s eight in a row at the AIG Women’s Open and 13 straight cuts this season, a new personal best. She’s at even-par through two rounds with seven birdies and five bogeys.
Defending champion Lydia Ko squeaked through on the number at two-over, alongside three of the four amateurs in the field: Paula Martin Sampedro (earning her eighth LEAP point), Jeneath Wong (her first), and Carla Bernat Escudar (her sixth).
Not so lucky were Allisen Corpuz, Rose Zhang, Jennifer Kupcho, and Lilia Vu—among the 71 players heading home before the weekend.
Still, this has all the makings of a two-woman show. Yamashita is hunting her first LPGA win, Takeda is trying to prove she can finish what she starts, and Royal Porthcawl? Well, it’s fighting back. But if the opening 36 holes are any indication, the 2025 AIG Women’s Open may just come down to which of these two rising stars can keep the wind at her back—and the putts dropping.
If you’re not watching, check your pulse. This isn’t just golf—it’s a duel, with birdies for bullets and the Claret Jug’s cousin waiting at the end.
