Yamashita Shares Lead at LPGA Aramco Championship

Reigning Women's British Open champion Miyu Yamashita tied for first after Round 1 in Las Vegas.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:34am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a women's golf tournament, with overlapping shapes and planes in vibrant hues of green, blue, and yellow.A cubist interpretation of the intense competition at the LPGA Aramco Championship, where top players battle for the title in a high-stakes tournament.Las Vegas Today

Reigning Women's British Open champion Miyu Yamashita bounced back from an early bogey to join a three-way tie for the lead on Thursday in the LPGA Aramco Championship. Yamashita, along with compatriot Nasa Hataoka and American Lauren Coughlin, all shot 5-under 67 at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas.

Why it matters

The LPGA Aramco Championship features a strong field with all of the top 20 players in the world competing. Yamashita, Hataoka, and Coughlin's strong opening rounds have set up an exciting tournament with several top contenders in the mix.

The details

Yamashita, the world number six, had an eagle and four birdies to offset her early bogey. Hataoka, a seven-time LPGA winner, also recovered from an early bogey with five birdies, including on all four par-5 holes. Coughlin, chasing her third career title, had six birdies against one bogey. The leading trio had a one-shot lead over world number two Nelly Korda, third-ranked Kim Hyo-joo of South Korea, and American Jing Yan.

  • The tournament is being played on Thursday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Miyu Yamashita

The 24-year-old Japanese golfer is the reigning Women's British Open champion and the world number six.

Nasa Hataoka

A seven-time LPGA winner from Japan.

Lauren Coughlin

An American golfer chasing her third career LPGA title.

Nelly Korda

The world number two golfer from the United States.

Kim Hyo-joo

The third-ranked golfer from South Korea.

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What they’re saying

“The course is tough, but it's fun to figure it out.”

— Miyu Yamashita

“Last week, almost every hole you can try to make a birdie, so (this is) a totally different type of golf course this week. So that's why par-fives are very important. I played good today.”

— Nasa Hataoka

What’s next

The tournament will continue with Rounds 2-4 over the next three days, culminating in the crowning of a champion on Sunday, April 6, 2026.

The takeaway

The opening round of the LPGA Aramco Championship has set the stage for an exciting tournament with several top players in contention, including the reigning Women's British Open champion Miyu Yamashita, who is looking to build on her major victory and continue her strong start to the season.