Defending Champion and Top Stars Miss Cut at AIG Women’s Open

The weekend rounds at the 2026 AIG Women’s Open will proceed without several high-profile contenders at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. While 66 players successfully navigated the 4-over cut line, the tournament saw the early exit of defending champion Miyu Yamashita and former major winner Minjee Lee.

Yamashita’s title defense unraveled on Friday, culminating in a quadruple-bogey eight on the par-4 18th hole following difficulties in a bunker. She also recorded a triple-bogey on the third hole, finishing with a 77 to sit at 7 over for the tournament. This performance marks her first missed cut at a major since the 2024 British Open.

Minjee Lee continues to struggle with form in England. The three-time major winner finished at 7 over after hitting just two fairways in the opening round. Her appearance comes on the heels of a withdrawal from last week’s Scottish Open, where she was 10 over through 13 holes. Lee declined to provide specifics regarding that withdrawal when questioned by Fox Corporation outlets this week.

Local favorite Georgia Hall also missed the opportunity to play the weekend on home soil. Eight years after winning the title at this venue, Hall shot rounds of 76 and 72 to finish at 6 over. Despite the early exit, Hall emphasized the significance of returning to the course with her fiancé and infant son.

Top-ranked amateur Kiara Romero missed the cut in her bid for LPGA Tour membership, finishing at 6 over. However, she remains in position to secure the Mark H. McCormack Medal next week if she holds the top amateur ranking.

What to watch

• Weekend leaderboard positioning at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.
• Minjee Lee’s performance in upcoming tournaments following recent struggles.
• Kiara Romero’s status for the Mark H. McCormack Medal next week.

Source: original release