Japanese finishes on 11 under, two clear of Hull

Lottie Woad happy with top-10 finish

Charley Hull is due high praise for at least making this interesting. It may be of little consolation to the English golfer as her wait for a maiden major win goes on but Hull’s surge was the only thing that ever looked like halting Miyu Yamashita’s Porthcawl procession. What an afternoon of stirring drama this quickly became on the stunning links, which should be rewarded with more high-profile events before too long. To Hull, plenty of plaudits for such a swashbuckling display.

Yamashita eventually prevailed, by two, at 11 under par. The Women’s Open was denied a British winner for the first time since Georgia Hall lifted the trophy at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s in 2018. Still, Hull must feel she is closer than ever to winning one of her sport’s biggest prizes. She now has four second places in majors.

“Coming into this week I didn’t think I was going to make the cut,” Hull admitted. “That’s the truth of it. I wasn’t hitting it very well. I couldn’t prepare as well as I wanted to because I was poorly. I obviously collapsed three times in the round at the Evian and then I still wasn’t feeling well until Sunday last week. So I think I did pretty well and considering my mindset coming into it. I’m pretty proud of myself.