Japan’s Miyu Yamashita produced a masterclass in calm and precision to capture the Maybank Championship 2025 title in thrilling fashion, edging out South Korea’s Choi Hye-Jin and Australia’s Hannah Green in a dramatic playoff at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) West Course.
All three players finished tied at -18 (270) after 72 holes of intense competition, setting up a nerve-wracking playoff that kept fans glued to the action until the very end.
Yamashita, the 24-year-old rising star from Japan, delivered a stunning bogey-free final and made -7(65), carding seven birdies to force the playoff. Her flawless round contrasted sharply with the challenges faced by the overnight leader, Choi Hye-Jin, who stumbled with three bogeys and only two birdies, while Hannah Green battled back with five birdies, including a clutch putt on the 18th hole that earned her a spot in the playoff.
On the decisive playoff hole at the par-5 18th, Yamashita’s calmly rolled in the birdie putt, while both Choi and Green could only manage pars — sealing Yamashita’s second career LPGA title and sparking rapturous applause from the Malaysian crowd.
The victory earned Yamashita the winner’s prize of US$450,000 (RM1.89 million) and cements her status as one of Asia’s brightest golfing talents.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul (Jeeno) mounted a strong late charge with a 68 (-4), featuring six birdies and two bogeys, but narrowly missed joining the playoff. She finished at -17 (271, T4), taking home US$108,235 (RM454,694).
Malaysia’s own Mirabel Ting emerged as the top local performer, finishing T49 at -3 (285) in her debut LPGA home appearance — a promising result that earned her US$9,984 (RM41,907) and a warm ovation from local fans.
Credit Photo : Maybank
