As the AIG Women’s Open got underway at Royal Porthcawl, a new wave of international talent wasted no time making a statement Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda surged to the top of the leaderboard, each carding a five-under-par 67 to share the first-round lead on Thursday.
Okayama recovered from a bogey on the very first hole to deliver a stunning 4-under 32 on the front nine. Battling through recent back troubles, she steadied herself on the inward nine to go bogey-free and finish strong. “My tee shots were pretty good today so I was able to play without any major issues,” she said post-round. “It was fun. I made one or two long putts, both about 5 meters long, and had quite a few chances to get within 2 meters.”
Takeda matched Okayama’s effort with a very different route to the top. A double-bogey on the ninth hole could have derailed her round, but she responded with calm, calculated play, collecting four birdies on the back nine. “I played really well today,” Takeda said. “But it’s only the first day and you never know what’s going to happen on this course, so I’d like to do my best tomorrow.”
Japan’s Deep Bench Shines Early
The co-leaders weren’t the only players flying Japan’s flag near the top. Miyu Yamashita turned in a strong 68, just one stroke behind, while Shiho Kuwaki, Mao Saigo, and Chisato Iwai all posted 3-under 69s to tie for fourth. That placed six Japanese players in the top 10, underlining the nation’s growing influence on the global stage of women’s golf.
These performances weren’t just solid;they came under challenging weather. Gusting winds off the Welsh coast made shot selection tricky and tested every facet of a player’s game. Despite those conditions, the Japanese contingent looked composed, clinical, and confident–a signal that their youth movement is no longer in development mode but firmly in contention.
Pano Leads American Charge
On the American side, Alexa Pano led a 20-player contingent with an impressive 3-under 69, featuring an eagle, four birdies, and three bogeys. It was a rollercoaster round, but one that showed her resilience and scoring ability. “It’s always nice to see red numbers on the first day,” she said. “Also, I liked how I felt on the golf course. That was the biggest takeaway for me.”
Just one stroke back was a formidable group of U.S. players at 2-under 70. That included world number one Nelly Korda, along with Andrea Lee, Lindy Duncan, Auston Kim, and AIG Women’s Open rookie Brooke Matthews. Korda’s round was a grind, marked by precision on the back nine where she went 3-under with several crucial par saves. “The wind definitely picks up when you get closer to the water,” she noted. “You’re starting to hit your shots into the water. Overall, I’m happy with my scorecard. I would say it was pretty clean.”
Global Talent Packed Near the Top
Beyond Japan and the U.S., 50 players managed to break par on Thursday–no small feat given the weather. Among those were Australia’s Minjee Lee and Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, both finishing at 2-under. Sixteen players posted rounds of 70, creating a tightly packed leaderboard and setting the stage for volatility over the next three days.
Royal Porthcawl is notorious for its unpredictable links-style conditions, and the wind looks likely to remain a factor throughout the tournament. But if Thursday was any indication, this year’s AIG Women’s Open may very well be remembered for Japan’s rising dominance, and a shifting of the guard in women’s golf.
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