Ayako Uehara

is a Japanese professional golfer.

Career Uehara, from Okinawa, started playing golf at age 12. She had a successful amateur career and won the Japan Women's Junior Golf Championship at the age of 15, and the Japan Women's Amateur Golf Championship at the age of 18. Together with Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine, she was a member of the Japanese team that won a silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games.

In 2003, Uehara turned professional and joined the LPGA of Japan Tour, where she was tied for 3rd as a rookie at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship, and later recorded three victories. She finished third at the LPGA Tour co-sanctioned 2012 Mizuno Classic. In 2013, she made her way onto the LPGA Tour on her first attempt, where she finish third in the Rookie of the Year rankings. She recorded a tied 4th finish at the 2014 Mizuno Classic, just a stroke out of joining a playoff.

Uehara held the lead after the first round of the 2014 Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale, after an opening four-under-par 68. Uehara, in solo second place just one shot off of the lead, played in the final group at a major championship for the first time in her career at the 2017 Evian Championship.

In 2024, Uehara joined the Ladies European Tour, where she had a best finish of tied 7th at the La Sella Open in Spain. In 2025, she tied for 4th at the Dutch Ladies Open, three strokes behind winner Mimi Rhodes.

Amateur wins 1999 Japan Women's Junior Golf Championship 2002 Japan Women's Amateur Golf Championship

Professional wins (3) LPGA of Japan Tour wins (3)

Results in LPGA majors Results not in chronological order.

CUT = missed the half-way cut NT = no tournament T = tied

Summary Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (2013 Kraft Nabisco – 2013 Evian) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (2017 Evian – 2018 ANA)

Team appearances Amateur Asian Games (representing Japan): 2002

Professional Lexus Cup (representing Asia team): 2007 (winners) International Crown (representing Japan): 2018