Heading into the week, foreign players had taken each of the previous eight LPGA Tour major championships, including three from Japan.

PORTHCAWL, Wales – For Miyu Yamashita, Sunday evening signalled it was finally time to celebrate. The Japanese golfer and LPGA rookie had just won her first major, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, one day after turning 24.

Miyu Yamashita raised her arms and immediately bowed her head with tears in her eyes. It was an exhausting but exhilarating week for the Japanese star at the AIG Women’s British Open. She worked into the night on the driving range on her 24th birthday Saturday,