The 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open, the season‑closing major on the women’s tour, concluded at the historic links of Royal Lytham & St Annes with a dramatic finish that will be remembered for years to come. After four days of relentless competition, Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki emerged as the champion, securing her first major title in a nail‑biting playoff that showcased both skill and nerves of steel.
Kuwaki entered the final round tied at five under par with Germany’s Esther Henseleit. Both players had displayed remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, but the decisive moment arrived on the 72nd hole when Henseleit produced a spectacular 45‑foot birdie putt, matching Kuwaki’s 70‑stroke round and forcing a sudden‑death playoff.
The crowd, aware that a major could be decided on a single putt, held its breath as the two competitors prepared for extra holes. The first playoff hole was a test of composure.
Henseleit, needing a birdie to clinch the title, missed a 10‑foot putt that would have ended the match in her favor. Kuwaki, faced with a challenging lie after her ball had settled in thick rough, executed a delicate pitch that left her within striking distance of the pin.
She then holed a four‑putt for par, keeping her hopes alive. On the second extra hole, Henseleit’s fortunes turned dramatically. Her tee shot struck a marshal’s marker and ricocheted into a dense bush, obliging her to execute a recovery pitch that ultimately resulted in a bogey. Kuwaki, meanwhile, found the green in regulation and calmly two‑putted for par, sealing a victory that marked her as the second consecutive Japanese golfer to win the AIG Women’s Open.
The triumph also awarded her a $1.5 million first‑place purse, underscoring the significance of her achievement. The playoff drama was only one chapter of a tournament that featured a deep field of contenders.
Overnight leader Yealimi Noh, who had held the top spot after the third round, slipped to a solitary stroke behind the leaders after posting a 74 in the final round, ultimately finishing third. The world’s top‑ranked players, Nelly Korda and Jeongeun “Jeeno” Thitikul, both posted solid rounds and shared fourth place, each a single stroke further back.
Home favorites Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, who had nurtured hopes of delivering a British victory and extending a potential three‑year streak of home‑grown winners at Royal Lytham, found themselves tied for sixth, four strokes behind the leaders. South Korean star Ha Rahn Ryu, who entered the tournament with aspirations of capturing a third consecutive major, also concluded the event at one under par, reflecting a respectable but ultimately insufficient performance.
Statistically, the tournament was a tight affair: only 11 of the 68 players who made the cut after the first two rounds managed to finish under par. This low number of sub‑par finishers highlighted the demanding nature of the Royal Lytham & St Annes course, with its deep bunkers, undulating fairways, and ever‑changing coastal winds that tested every aspect of a golfer’s game. Beyond the leaderboard, the AIG Women’s Open served as the final major of the five‑event women’s calendar.
Earlier in the year, Nelly Korda had claimed the Chevron Championship, while the U.S. Women’s Open was won by another rising star. South Korean champion Ha Rahn Ryu had already added the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to her résumé and followed it with a victory at the Amundi Evian Championship, positioning her as one of the sport’s most dominant forces.
Coverage of the tournament was provided exclusively by Sky Sports, which continues to be the primary broadcaster for golf across the major tours, including the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, and Ladies European Tour. Viewers were encouraged to use the Chrome browser for an optimal video experience, especially for the high‑definition streaming of the playoff moments.
For fans looking to experience the game firsthand, the article concluded with a call to action: a reminder that more than 1,700 courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland are available for booking, offering golfers of all abilities the chance to play on historic venues similar to Royal Lytham & St Annes. The invitation to search by course, city, or postal code underscored the growing accessibility of the sport, even as the professional ranks celebrated another memorable chapter in women’s golf history.