The final standings of the 50th AIG Women’s Open, the season‑ending major on the women’s golf calendar, were posted after an exhilarating conclusion at Royal Lytham & St Annes. In a dramatic finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki secured her first major championship by prevailing in a sudden‑death playoff, a victory that capped a day of intense competition in which more than a dozen players were in genuine contention for the title. Kuwaki finished the regulation 72 holes at five strokes under par, sharing that score with Germany’s Esther Henseleit.
Henseleit forced the playoff by sinking an impressive 45‑foot birdie putt on the final hole, matching Kuwaki’s round‑of‑70 and sending the tournament into extra holes. The playoff began with both competitors making pars on the first extra hole. Henseleit then missed a 10‑foot putt that would have handed her the championship, while Kuwaki managed a scramble, pitching out of thick rough and ultimately making a four‑stroke par.
The tension escalated on the second playoff hole. Henseleit’s tee shot ricocheted off a marshal and into a bush, forcing her to execute a difficult pitch back into the fairway and resulting in a bogey. In contrast, Kuwaki found the green in regulation and calmly two‑putted for the winning score, clinching the title.
The overnight leader, Yealimi Noh, could not maintain her advantage and finished one stroke behind the leaders, taking third place after a final‑round 74. World‑number‑one Nelly Korda and Thailand’s Jeongeun "Jeeno" Thitikul, who occupy the top two spots in the global rankings, both posted rounds that left them tied for fourth, each a further stroke back from the leaders. Home hopefuls Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, who had dreamed of a British victory on familiar soil and the prospect of a third consecutive British winner at Royal Lytham, settled for a shared sixth place, four strokes behind the leaders. South Korea’s Ha‑Ran Ryu, who entered the event with hopes of capturing a third straight major, also finished on one under par.
Only 11 of the 68 players who survived the cut managed to finish the tournament under par, underscoring the difficulty of the Royal Lytham course. Kuwaki’s triumph marked the second consecutive win for a Japanese golfer at the AIG Women’s Open, and she walked away with a $1.5 million first‑prize purse. The AIG Women’s Open represents the final major of the five‑event women’s major series.
Earlier in the season, Nelly Korda captured the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while Ha‑Ran Ryu followed her KPMG Women’s PGA Championship victory with a win at the Amundi Evian Championship. These results highlight the global nature of the women's game, with champions emerging from the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Europe.
Broadcast coverage of the tournament was provided exclusively by Sky Sports, which continues to be the primary destination for live golf across the majors, PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, and Ladies European Tour. Viewers were encouraged to use the Chrome browser for optimal video playback, and Sky Sports also offers a contract‑free streaming option for those who prefer to watch without a long‑term commitment. Beyond the competition itself, the event promoted golf tourism across the United Kingdom and Ireland, inviting enthusiasts to book tee times at any of the 1,700 affiliated courses.
The website featured a search tool for entering a course name, city, or postal code, although some users reported difficulty finding results on certain queries. In summary, Shiho Kuwaki’s victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes was a testament to resilience and composure under pressure.
Her playoff heroics, combined with a field that featured numerous world‑class performances, made the 2025 AIG Women’s Open a memorable finale to the season’s major championships. The tournament not only showcased top‑tier talent but also reinforced the growing popularity of women's golf worldwide, setting the stage for another exciting year ahead.