What happened at the Maybank Championship?
On a breezy Sunday at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, 24‑year‑old Miyu Yamashita of Japan added a second LPGA victory to her résumé, sealing the Maybank Championship in a nail‑biting three‑way playoff. After a rain‑delayed finish, Yamashita birdied the first extra hole, leaving South Korea’s Hye‑Jin Choi and Australia’s Hannah Green to settle for par and watch the Japanese star lift the trophy.
How the final round unfolded
Choi entered the day with a comfortable four‑stroke cushion, having dominated the first two rounds. But the weather had other plans – a sudden downpour forced a one‑hour pause after the turn, turning the course into a slick, tricky battlefield. When play resumed, Choi managed a clutch birdie on the 16th, briefly reigniting her hopes, yet a string of missed putts on the back‑nine let the lead slip.
Yamashita, who had been lurking just a few strokes behind, posted a blistering 65 – the day’s low round – to surge into a three‑way tie at 18‑under 270. Her round featured seven birdies and only two bogeys, a display of precision that left the crowd buzzing.
Green, fresh off a victorious International Crown campaign for Australia, carded a roller‑coaster 68 with seven birdies but also three bogeys. Her steady play on the final holes earned her a spot in the sudden‑death showdown.
The playoff drama
After the rain finally cleared, the three contenders headed to the first playoff hole. Yamashita’s iron shot found the middle of the green, and she calmly sank a 12‑foot birdie putt. Choi and Green could only manage pars, handing Yamashita the win.
It was a picture‑perfect finish for the Japanese rookie, who celebrated the triumph with a beaming smile and a raised club, while the gallery erupted in applause.
Who else was in the mix?
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul (68) and China’s Liu Yan (65) both finished tied for fourth at 17‑under, just a shot shy of the leaders. Japan’s Akie Iwai (67) and South Korean teammates A Lim Kim (68) and Kim Sei‑Young (66) rounded out the top‑five group.
Defending champion Yin Ruoning posted a solid 70 for a respectable 12th place, while Brooke Henderson also carded a 70, landing her in a tie for 27th.
What this win means for Yamashita
Yamashita’s victory marks her second career title in just her first full LPGA season, following her breakthrough major win in August. The win not only adds the prestigious Maybank Championship to her shelf but also cements her status as a rising star capable of thriving under pressure.
Her performance also highlights a broader trend: the LPGA’s Asian swing is producing a fresh wave of talent from Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, making the tour more competitive than ever.
Looking ahead
The LPGA’s five‑week Asian swing wraps up next week with the Japan Classic in Shiga. Fans will be watching to see if Yamashita can keep the momentum going, and whether Choi can finally convert a final‑round lead into a victory.
Either way, the Kuala Lumpur showdown reminded everyone why golf is a game of inches, patience, and the occasional splash of rain that can turn a routine round into a memorable drama.
