LPGA /LET R&A: AIG Women's Open
Leaderboard
When you google Miyu Yamashita the first person that comes up is the muscular Japanese wrestling legend, 30 years old the reining queen of the ring in Japan !!
Miyu Yamashita acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during the third round of the AIG Women's Open.
Scrolling further you find Miyu Yamashita, the diminutive 1.5 meter (4'10") who is now the reigning queen of the AIG Women's Open.
A prolific 24 year old winner in Japan with her father as her coach, she already has 13 titles over there on her resume, non bigger than this.
She was part of the Asian Invasion that dominated the British Women's Open leaderboard from the get go, her big break in my opinion was her late, early schedule when she posted 67 then 65 in calm weather Friday morning before the wind got up to get to -11, three shots clear of her Japanese playing partner Rio Takeda and she was never caught.
By now you'll know that Charley Hull gave TV and the huge Welsh crowd what they wanted with a superb final round that turned the event into a thrilling match play until the young English star faltered at 16, 17 for 69, T2 with Minami Katsu 69, and the little Japanese playing with the mental fortitude of a giant, stayed steady, shot a final round 70 -11 total to win by 2 shots.
11 Asian women have won the AIG since 2000, in fact since Se Ri Pak in 2001, 24 of the 54 majors had been won by Asians, make that 25 now, in a two decades of domination from countries like South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Laos, etc., and now there are women from Asian families who have become citizens in the USA, Canada, Australia, all over the world like college sensation turned pro, Rose Zhang who are dominating their events.
Yamashita, (none of us were comfortable pronouncing that at first) was simply another exclamation point of why. Her life with her father and mother has been and is golf. No boyfriends, partying, outside activities that are normal for girls in western society.
The cultural difference of respect for the family, parents, many who have come from war torn countries who are driven to succeed when given a new opportunity, are part of their success as well.
She is so small, it's almost shocking to see her elegant swing, ball striking, short game, putting that were on display on this historically difficult Porthcawl links.
She wins a record $1,462,500 from a purse of $9,500,000. T2 was worth $962,424.
She doesn't speak English, her veteran caddy from New Zealand, John Bennett said " I just gave her the numbers, she did all the rest, just kept hitting it straight down there, and making the putts, it was all her.."
Bryan Angus
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