Miyu Yamashita of Japan
Japan’s Miyu Yamashita successfully defended her Maybank Championship title, producing a final-round four-under-par 68 to win the US$3 million tournament by two shots at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) on Sunday.
The 25-year-old finished with a four-round total of 22-under-par 266, after rounds of 65, 66, 67 and 68, to lift the Tiger Trophy for the second consecutive year. She became the first player to win the Maybank Championship twice.
Yamashita claimed the US$450,000 winner’s cheque and 500 Race to CME Globe points, which moved her two places up to second in the standings as the LPGA Tour season heads into its final stretch.
She broke 70 in all four rounds and moved into the lead after the second round. With a two-shot advantage heading into the final day, she closed with a four-under 68 to hold off China’s Yan Liu, who also shot 68 to finish runner-up on 20-under-par 268.
Yan Liu of China
Her victory came against a world-class field that included six of the top 10 players in the Race to CME Globe rankings, fellow former champions Ruoning Yin and Céline Boutier, and Olympic champion Lydia Ko.
Thailand’s amateur Marisa Tojai, who qualified through the ASEAN Qualifier, enjoyed an outstanding week to finish tied for third with France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard. Both returned final-round scores of 67 and 69, respectively, finishing at 19-under-par 269.
The 17-year-old Marisa was one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, following rounds of 65 in the second and third rounds with another impressive showing on Sunday. At one stage, she was just one shot behind Yamashita, keeping the pressure on the defending champion.
Marisa Tojai of Thailand
Australia’s Robyn Choi finished fifth on 17-under-par 271 after a final-round 69, while another Thai ASEAN qualifier, Achiraya Sriwong, climbed the leaderboard with a superb seven-under 65, finishing sixth on 16-under-par 272.
For Yamashita, the victory marked another milestone in an impressive season. She admitted she had not expected to win the tournament for a second consecutive year, choosing instead to focus on playing well over all four days.
“I’m just really happy to have won the title, and I honestly didn’t expect to be able to win this tournament two years in a row, so I just focused on playing all four days,” she said.
The final round was far from straightforward, with Liu making early birdies and putting pressure on the Japanese star. However, Yamashita remained composed and focused.
“Today was an especially hard round for me, and I think Yan Liu was playing really well and making birdies from early in the round. But I’m glad I was able to stay focused, and I was able to play with a good level of nervous energy throughout the round,” she said.
Yamashita also revealed that she was not certain of winning until the final hole, acknowledging Liu’s strong play and length off the tee.
The victory was her fifth on the LPGA Tour, making her the fastest Japanese player to reach that milestone. She also secured her third win of the season, having prioritised consistency and good form throughout the year.
“I’ve always had a strong desire to win,” she said, adding that the success of other Japanese players had also been a source of motivation.
Yan Liu, meanwhile, was pleased with her runner-up finish, which marked her best result on tour and her first appearance in the final group.
“I think I played very good golf today. I was pretty focused on my game, and I think I did a pretty good job. I’m proud of myself,” said Liu.
The Chinese golfer said the experience had given her greater confidence, adding that preparation and practice were key to handling pressure.
Amateur Marisa Tojai also had plenty to celebrate after an impressive debut on the LPGA Tour. Her consistent play over the final three rounds left her in contention for the title and earned her a share of third place.
She credited her putting and approach shots for her performance and said the four days had been a valuable learning experience.
“It’s been a very good experience for four days, and there are a lot of mistakes that I learnt from this tournament. I will take these mistakes to improve,” she said.
Achiraya Sriwong of Thailand
Achiraya also had reason to celebrate after closing with seven birdies, her best round of the week. She said she focused on playing her own game and trusting herself, rather than overthinking the leaderboard.
The Thai golfer, competing in the Maybank Championship for the second time, now heads to LPGA Q-School, hoping to carry the confidence from her performance in Malaysia into her next challenge.
Maybank President and Group Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Sri Khairussaleh Ramli congratulated Yamashita on her achievement and said the tournament continued to play a key role in promoting women’s golf in Malaysia and the region.
“Congratulations to Miyu Yamashita on a superb performance and becoming the first-ever two-time winner of the Maybank Championship. Every edition of the Maybank Championship adds another fascinating chapter to women’s golf in Malaysia and the wider region. A field of this calibre is what makes the Maybank Championship a highlight of the LPGA calendar in Asia, and we are proud to host prestigious golf here in Malaysia. The tremendous energy and excitement throughout the week strengthen our commitment to growing the game and inspiring the next generation of golfers,” he said.
For Yamashita, the focus now shifts to the next tournament. She will return to Japan for the TOTO Japan Classic, but not before reflecting on another memorable week in Malaysia.
“I really enjoy playing here, and I’m looking forward to playing here next year, too. This year, I can enjoy the food, and there are so many nice people here, so I’m really looking forward to playing here next year,” she said.
