Japanese Duo Lead Women's Open, England's Woad Trails Five

At the AIG Women's Open held at Royal Porthcawl, Japan's Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda led the first round with scores of five-under 67, sharing the top spot after solid performances despite Takeda recovering from a double-bogey. England's 21-year-old Lottie Woad, who entered the tournament as a favorite following a remarkable July including a Scottish Open win, struggled to find momentum and finished the round at level-par 72, five shots behind the leaders. Woad showed flashes of her skill with several birdies but also bogeys that prevented her from climbing the leaderboard. Other notable players such as reigning champion Lydia Ko and world number one Nelly Korda did not capitalize on the calm conditions, posting scores of one-over and two-under respectively. Japanese players generally dominated the day, with multiple competitors like Miyu Yamashita and Mao Saigo scoring well near the top. The tournament featured strong spectator interest, especially for Woad, who is competing in her first major as a professional after an impressive transition from college and amateur golf.