Porthcawl

Royal Porthcawl has hosted the Amateur Championship seven times, as well as the Curtis Cup in 1964 and the Walker Cup in 1995.

It has also been the stage for three Senior Opens, in 2014, 2017 and 2023, but the Women’s Open was on a different level in terms of the tournament’s status, its reach and the quality of the field.

This was Royal Porthcawl’s moment in the sun – and the wind, plus some rain, although not as much as there might have been – and the south Wales links shone.

Maureen Madill, the former Ladies European Tour player turned pundit from Northern Ireland, went as far as suggesting that Porthcawl had eclipsed Royal Portrush, the scene of the men’s Open Championship last month.

“I have been walking around this week and I have to say – and I will probably never get back into Ireland after I say this – I think the course is in better condition than Royal Portrush was for the Open two weeks ago,” she said during BBC radio coverage over the weekend.

“That’s me. I will not be allowed across the Irish Sea now.

“But I am in awe. I have been looking at these glorious greens, the structure of the bunkers, the sweeps, the hollows, the shadows… it’s absolutely glorious.”

Yamashita assumed control of the tournament with a seven-under-par round of 65 on Friday morning and led from that moment on.

She briefly shared top spot with playing partner A Lim Kim early in her final round, but the South Korean’s birdie at the second was quickly followed by consecutive bogeys.

Hull, who propelled herself into contention with a six-under 66 on Saturday, quickly emerged as the main challenger to world number 15 Yamashita.

They both played their first nine holes in three under par, meaning Yamashita reached the turn three shots clear.

Hull refused to relent and continued to attack, closing the gap to one shot until a costly trip to a fairway bunker on the 16th.

A couple of groups further back, Yamashita stayed remarkably composed and was able to limit the damage of her rare errors – superbly saving par with a lengthy putt at the 14th.

With the knowledge that a bogey on the par-five 18th would be enough for victory, there were some nervous moments when Yamashita found the rough with her first two shots – before a safe chip onto the green set up a par that confirmed she would be the third Japanese winner of the Women’s Open.

Speaking via a translator at the trophy presentation, she said: “To win such a historic tournament in front of all these amazing fans is such an incredible feeling.

“To be part of such a moment in history is something very special,” added Yamashita – who collected a winner’s prize of $1.462m (£1.1m).

It has been a scarcely believable dozen years since Hull burst on to the professional scene in 2013 with five sucessive runners-up finishes on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

She has gone on to record a combined six victories on the LPGA Tour and LET and become a key member of the past six European Solheim Cup teams, but three runner-up finishes remain the best Hull has achieved in the sport’s biggest championships.

“Second to me is first loser,” said England’s top ranked player.

“But I’m in a great position because if you’re not asking [about my chances], I’m not doing something right.”

Hull has been a little boom or bust in the majors over recent years. In her past 24 starts, she has missed the cut on eight occassions but finished top-25 in 15, including runner-up in this championship when it was held at Surrey course Walton Heath in 2023.

Unlike the men’s Open Championship, which is always held at a coastal links course, the women’s equivalent is also played at inland courses.

And while Hull said she “prefers parkland” tracks, she has positive experiences from Porthcawl to draw upon.

“I won here when I was 14, so I have fond memories,” she said, referring to playing in the inaugural Junior Vagliano trophy in 2011 – a Solheim Cup-style amateur contest which pits Great Britain and Ireland agaist Continental Europe.

“Links is going to be a challenge and I hope the wind is up because I like finding links hard.”

Three times she has finished in the spot behind the winner in her previous 59 major appearances. There have been six other top-10s.

“I don’t really look at stuff like that,” she said.

“I have no interest. As I am in life, once I’m done I’m off to the next thing.”

And when pushed on what she needs to do to take her game to the next level, Hull simply said: “I need to not put too much pressure on my golf, not be too golf obsessed.

“Like when I was younger, I was never that obsessed.”

Perhaps a windy Porthcawl will help invoke memories of those more innocent days at blustery Turnberry.