Takeda and Okayama lead Japanese surge at Women's Open Championship

Rio Takeda overcame a double bogey at the turn, sinking four birdies over her final seven holes on Thursday to card a five-under-par 67, sharing the lead with Eri Okayama in a Women's Open Championship first round that featured a Japanese surge and a mixed day for English rookie sensation Lottie Woad.

Players from Japan held the top three spots at Royal Porthcawl, with Miyu Yamashita sitting at four-under-par 68. Three others were among the top 12 after an opening round in which the wind kept anyone from going low, but about half the field finished at par or better.

Takeda, one of 20 golfers who have won on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour this year, endured a double bogey on the par-five ninth hole, only to rally on the back nine to make up ground. Okayama, who plays on the Japanese LPGA Tour, hit fairway metal to 12 feet at the 17th hole for her final birdie.

Woad started the month as the top-ranked amateur in women's golf. She won on the Ladies European Tour (LET), missed a playoff by one shot at a major (Evian Championship), and then won the Women's Scottish Open against a strong field in her pro debut.

The 21-year-old was the betting favorite going into the final major of the season, and did well to stay in the mix with a birdie on the par-five 18th hole for an even-par 72.

Woad played alongside defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand (73) and Lilia Vu of the USA, a double major winner from two years ago, who signed for a 74.

"Had a good amount of birdies, just a few poor bogeys on the front nine that could have definitely been avoided," Woad said. "Nice to finish on par and birdie the last. It's one of those rounds that could have definitely gotten away from me. I am happy how I hung in there and got a decent round together."

Nelly Korda, whose World No. 1 ranking she has held for the last 16 months is in jeopardy, posted an early bogey and kept a clean card the rest of the way, adding three birdies for a 70. Much like Woad, the round could have produced a much higher score if not for a series of key pars, none bigger than the American's clutch 12-footer on the 16th green.

Korda and Woad played in the afternoon, when the wind began to blow harder off the Bristol Channel, and faced a quick turnaround before starting the second round on Friday morning.

Mao Saigo, who won the first women's major of the year at the Chevron Championship, and Riviera Maya Open champion Chisato Iwai, were in the large group knotted for fourth place at three-under-par 69. That contingent also included England's Mimi Rhodes, who leads the LET money list after claiming three titles.