The 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open, the season‑ending major on the women’s golf calendar, concluded at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club with a dramatic finish that will be remembered for years to come. After four rounds of high‑stakes competition, Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki emerged as the champion, securing her first major title in a tense, sudden‑death playoff against Germany’s Esther Henseleit. Kuwaki entered the final round tied at five‑under‑par with Henseleit, both having posted a solid 70 on the day’s last 18 holes.
The pressure intensified on the 72nd hole when Henseleit produced a spectacular 45‑foot birdie putt, matching Kuwaki’s score and forcing the tournament into extra holes. The playoff began with both competitors making par on the first sudden‑death hole, but Henseleit missed a relatively short 10‑foot putt that would have clinched the championship.
Kuwaki, faced with a challenging lie in thick rough, managed to scramble a four‑stroke hole, keeping her hopes alive. On the second playoff hole, Henseleit’s tee shot took an unfortunate bounce off a marshal’s position and landed in a bush, requiring her to pitch the ball back into the fairway and ultimately resulting in a bogey.
Kuwaki, in contrast, found the green in regulation and calmly two‑putted for par, which proved decisive. Her composure under pressure earned her the victory, making her the second consecutive Japanese golfer to win the AIG Women’s Open and awarding her a $1.5 million first‑place prize. The rest of the leaderboard featured a strong field, though only a handful of players managed to finish under par for the tournament.
Overnight leader Yealimi Noh slipped one stroke back to finish third 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, tied for fourth place, each one stroke behind Noh. Home favorite Charley Hull, along with fellow Briton Lottie Woad, shared sixth place, four strokes behind the leaders, while South Korea’s Ha‑Ran Ryu, who was chasing a third consecutive major title, finished at one under par. Overall, the tournament highlighted the depth of talent in women’s golf.
Only 11 of the 68 players who made the cut after the first two rounds managed to finish the event under par, underscoring the challenging conditions at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The course, known for its deep bunkers and fast, firm greens, tested every aspect of a player’s game—from driving accuracy to short‑game finesse. In addition to the on‑course action, the event featured a range of multimedia content, including video highlights that are best experienced using the Chrome browser for optimal accessibility. The AIG Women’s Open also served as a platform for promoting the broader women's golf schedule.
Earlier in the year, Nelly Korda captured the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, while Ha‑Ran Ryu added the Amundi Evian Championship to her résumé after a successful run at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Fans of the sport can continue to follow the action through Sky Sports, which retains exclusive live broadcasting rights for the majors, the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, the LPGA Tour, and the Ladies European Tour. For those looking to experience golf firsthand, Sky Sports offers flexible streaming options with no contract commitments, and golfers can also explore booking opportunities at over 1,700 courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The 2025 season will build on the momentum generated by this thrilling conclusion, with players and spectators alike anticipating the next major championships and the emerging storylines that will shape the future of women’s golf.