Lydia Ko has commended Miyu Yamashita for her impressive win at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, where the Japanese golfer secured a two-stroke victory over Charley Hull and Minami Katsu. The triumph came during the recently concluded women’s major tournament, highlighting Yamashita’s remarkable performance under challenging conditions.
Highlighting Miyu Yamashita’s Exceptional Performance
<pAt the post-tournament press conference, Lydia Ko, the 2024 AIG Women's Open champion, spoke about Yamashita’s strong showing throughout the event. Ko expressed admiration for the young Japanese golfer’s resilience and skill, stating,
“We play Mizuho where we play with some junior golfers, and here and there at these kind of Opens we see amateurs that play at a very elite level. She’s had an incredible summer. I’ve met her before. Followed what she’s been doing and she’s been playing incredible.
“Obviously coming in with a lot of momentum. Doesn’t matter how well your playing. The conditions we had, especially at the start of our round, was pretty crazy. She played — she was very gutsy and it was just a lot of good golf,” she added.
Miyu Yamashita began her tournament with a solid opening round of 68 and improved with an impressive 65 in the second round. Despite a setback in her third round with a 74, she recovered well in the final round, finishing with a score of 70 and ending the championship at 11-under par. Her victory earned her $1,462,500 in prize money, a testament to her outstanding effort.
An Overview of Lydia Ko’s Campaign at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open
Conversely, Lydia Ko faced challenges during the AIG Women’s Open, concluding the event tied for 36th place. She started with an opening round score of 73, marked by an early birdie but balanced by bogeys that brought her to one-over for the round. Her second round mirrored this pattern, with two birdies and three bogeys resulting in another one-over score.
Ko showed resilience in the third round by posting a 2-under score, including five birdies amidst a bogey and a double bogey. However, she struggled on the final day, beginning with a double bogey on the first hole. Although she had moments of recovery with three birdies later in the round, four bogeys on the front nine ultimately hindered her finish, leaving her with a 75 for the day.
Lydia Ko’s Recent Form Before the Tournament
Prior to the AIG Women’s Open, Lydia Ko had showcased strong form earlier in the 2025 season, clinching the title at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. She also notched noteworthy performances with a tie for sixth place at the Ford Championship and a tie for eleventh at the U.S. Women’s Open. However, Ko experienced difficulties in her two tournaments leading up to the AIG Women’s Open, missing the cut at both the Dow Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship.
The Significance of Yamashita’s Victory and Future Expectations
Miyu Yamashita’s triumph at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open demonstrates the rising talent emerging from Japan and the growing competitiveness of amateur players at high-profile events. Her strong play under difficult conditions, as noted by Lydia Ko, highlights her potential to be a formidable contender in future major championships. Meanwhile, Lydia Ko’s experience at this tournament reflects the challenges even top players can face in maintaining consistent form, suggesting a period of adjustment as she looks to rebound in upcoming events.