Did Diksha Dagar Overcome Challenges at the AIG Women’s Open as Japan’s Yamashita Claims Victory?

Porthcawl (Wales), Aug 4 (NationPress) Diksha Dagar faced a challenging conclusion on a day that commenced with rain and wind, but conditions improved later during the AIG Women’s Open. Despite the tough weather, the Indian golfer finished with a score of 5-over 77, recording eight bogeys and three birdies, culminating her week in 46th place with a total score of 6-over, having rounds of 71-73-73-77.

Diksha, the sole Indian participant in this year's Women’s Open, successfully made her second cut at this prestigious Major, a highlight in the seasonal calendar of women's golf. She started with a bogey and faced further challenges with four additional bogeys in the first seven holes, managing to secure just one birdie. In her final round, she added three more bogeys and two birdies, leading to a total of eight bogeys and three birdies.

In the LET Order of Merit, England’s Mimi Rhodes remains in the lead with 1,708.88 points, followed by Czechia’s Sara Kouskova at 1,473.71, and Singapore’s Shannon Tan in third with 1,419.95. Diksha Dagar ranks 12th in the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit.

Japan’s Miyu Yamashita secured her first major title with a commanding performance at the AIG Women’s Open held at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, earning a winner’s prize of $1,462,500.

Entering the final round with a one-shot lead, the 24-year-old carded three birdies on the front nine and dropped her only shot of the day on the 17th, ultimately sealing her victory in style, celebrating her birthday weekend.

This major title enhances her already impressive record on the LPGA of Japan Tour, where she holds 13 titles, and she becomes the sixth major champion from Japan.

Before this breakthrough victory, Yamashita’s highest finish in a major was as a runner-up at the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and earlier this year, she placed T6 in the same event, finishing T14 at the Amundi Evian Championship recently.

A strong crowd attended the final day, braving the initial wet and windy conditions before the weather cleared in the afternoon. Over 47,000 fans attended the five days of the Championship at Royal Porthcawl, marking the largest women’s sporting event in Wales.

England’s Charley Hull finished two shots back at nine-under par, tied for second with Japan’s Minami Katsu. Hull was in contention until making bogeys on 16 and 17, making it challenging for the four-time LET winner, who was seeking her first major title.

Hull has come close to winning before, finishing as a runner-up in both the US Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open in 2023.

Tied for fourth place at seven-under par were Japan’s Rio Takeda and South Korea’s A Lim Kim. Chinese Taipei’s Wei-Ling Hsu and America’s Megan Khang were tied for sixth, just one shot behind.

England’s Lottie Woad, who recently accepted LET membership, finished T8, alongside Australia’s Steph Kyriacou and leading amateur Paula Martin Sampedro.

The players will next head to the PIF London Championship next week.

England’s Mimi Rhodes achieved an ace at the 5th hole, marking the second hole-in-one of the week following Australia’s Steph Kyriacou’s ace at the 8th hole on day two. Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini finished just outside the top 10 in T13, tied with five other players at two-under par.