Frustrating start for Woad at Women's Open

MUCH TO PONDER: England's Lottie Woad lines up a putt on the 7th on day one of the 2025 AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl. Picture: Nigel French/PA 

Lottie Woad endured a frustrating start to the AIG Women's Open as Japan's Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda topped the first-round leaderboard at a sunny Royal Porthcawl on Thursday.

An astonishing July, which culminated in Woad winning the Scottish Open in her first event as a professional, had made the 21-year-old favourite for the year's final major.

But the former Florida State University player found the going tough on the south Wales coast as she ground out a level-par round of 72 thanks to a birdie at the last.

Okayama's five-under 67 gave her the lead before she was joined by Takeda after she birdied the 18th.

Japanese players dominated the opening day with Miyu Yamashita at four-under ahead of a large group on three-under that included Chevron Championship winner Mao Saigo, Shiho Kuwaki and Chisato Iwai.

Reigning champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand and world number one Nelly Korda, like Woad, failed to take advantage of relatively calm conditions.

Ko finished on one over, while American Korda was two-under par.

World number 139 Okayama bogeyed her opening hole but birdied five of the next eight and was rock solid on the way back with another birdie at the 17th moving her ahead.

Ireland's Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh ended the day with level-par 72 but an error strewn back nine saw Anna Foster  shoot a four-over-round of 76.

Reuters