Staff WriterIn an AIG Women’s Open opener served with a side of wind, wobbles, and Welsh charm, it was two names you won’t find on many fantasy golf rosters—Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda—who seized the spotlight with matching 67s and a share of the clubhouse lead. And let’s be honest, if you had either of them pegged for top spot at the end of round one, you’re either clairvoyant or extremely lucky.
Both sitting at 5-under-par, Okayama and Takeda powered a Japanese charge that turned Royal Porthcawl into a seaside shrine to precision golf—on a day that saw more sushi rolls than sausage rolls on the leaderboard.
This AIG Women’s Open might just be serving up a fresh script.
The Numbers Behind the Noise
Let’s get this out of the way: history says don’t go rushing to engrave any silverware just yet. Only one of the last 17 AIG Women’s Open champions has led or co-led after the opening round. That was Yani Tseng in 2010, back when iPads were still a novelty and Rory’s mop was blonde.
Even more telling, the last five champions have all come from three or more shots back, and only four champions in 48 editions have rallied from five or more behind. But if you believe stats win trophies, then you clearly haven’t seen Okayama’s second shot into 17.
Okayama: Back Problems? Not Today
Making her debut at the AIG Women’s Open, Eri Okayama was hardly a bookies’ favourite—especially after nursing a dodgy back in the build-up.
She opened with a bogey (so far, so expected), then promptly made five birdies before the turn to catapult herself into contention.
Her clincher came on the 17th, a flush second setting up a birdie she drained with the authority of someone who hadn’t just been stretching between shots.
Takeda: From Double Trouble to Red Numbers
22-year-old Rio Takeda, meanwhile, decided to write her own redemption arc mid-round. She chip-in birdied the 1st, cruised through the 2nd and 6th, then had a horror show on the 9th—a double bogey 7 that would’ve rattled many.
But Takeda? She birdied four of her next six holes like it was a Tuesday bounce game.
She nearly holed out at 16 as well, missing the flag by a whisker. If that ball had a bit more caffeine, we might be talking about shot of the season.
Yamashita, Kuwaki & Co Keep Japan on the Map
One shot back is Miyu Yamashita, who threw in four straight birdies and an eagle at the 9th just to stay in the conversation.
A bogey at 17 denied her a slice of the lead, but her game looks as dialled-in as a satellite dish in a thunderstorm.
Further down, Chisato Iwai, Mao Saigo, and Shiho Kuwaki navigated the worst of the early-morning breeze to sit at 3-under, just two shots back.
That puts six Japanese players in the top ten, which may well be a record. If it isn’t, it should be.
British Hopes: Rhodes, Harry, and Woad Show Grit
Local girl Mimi Rhodes, just a short jaunt across the Bristol Channel from Burnham & Berrow, delivered a tidy 69 that included an eagle at the 9th and enough bounce in her step to make the cut look very manageable.
Mimi Rhodes (-3, T4) on her first round at an AIG Women’s Open: “It was definitely very mental out there. I had to really concentrate on the tee shots and pick smaller targets and just not get ahead of myself. I was, yeah, just trying to stay in the moment and soak it all in, have loads of fun. That definitely made it more fun.”
Royal Porthcawl’s own Darcey Harry gave the locals a reason to roar, carding a 2-under 70 with a crucial birdie at 17—her fourth of the day. “I’ve never gone low around here,” she said earlier this week. Not anymore, Darcey.
Lottie Woad, last week’s ISPS HANDA Scottish Open champion, started with a birdie and electrified fans with a monster putt at 6.
But four bogeys crept in, and she finished level par—still ahead of defending champion Lydia Ko, who signed for a 1-over.
Elsewhere on the Board…
Charley Hull, the rollercoaster in cleats, opened with a double and went three-over in as many holes.
Four straight birdies followed, but so did four straight bogeys. A closing birdie brought her home at 1-over, which just about sums up her day.
In Gee Chun, still seeking that elusive AIG Women’s Open title, fired a 69 and drained a bomb on the 10th for good measure. She shares 3-under with Rhodes, Alexa Pano, Ina Yoon, Laura Fuenfstueck, and Manon De Roey—among others.
At 2-under, Nelly Korda lurks with intent, finishing strong with a birdie on the last. Atthaya Thitikul joined her there, despite back-to-back bogeys after a superb birdie at 15.
Amateurs Hold Their Own
The Smyth Salver race is on with Paula Martin Sampedro, Jeneath Wong, and Carla Bernat all carding level-par 72s.
Meja Ortengren sits two behind. Wong’s escape artistry at the 5th—par from a hedge—was worthy of Houdini in golf shoes.
Final Thoughts
On a day when most expected the cream of the crop to separate early, it was the rising sun that blazed brightest.
The AIG Women’s Open may still have plenty of chapters left to write, but the Japanese contingent have already penned a rousing prologue.
If the winds stay quiet and the putters stay hot, we could be on for a leaderboard shake-up of seismic proportions.
But for now, Okayama and Takeda lead the dance—and they’ve got the tempo just right.
