Shiho Kuwaki pulled off a breathtaking victory in a sudden‑death playoff against Germany's Esther Henseleit to claim the AIG Women’s Open title, delivering one of the most memorable finishes in recent major‑championship history. The tournament, held at the storied links of Royal Lytham & St Annes, saw both competitors finish the regulation 72 holes tied at five under par, prompting an extra‑hole showdown that would decide the champion. On the final day, Henseleit produced a remarkable moment of brilliance by sinking a 45‑foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, a shot that vaulted her into a tie with Kuwaki, who had posted a steady one‑under 70 for the round. The German’s long‑range putt seemed to set the stage for a possible win, but Kuwaki’s composure under pressure proved decisive.
The first extra hole was the par‑four 18th. Kuwaki’s tee shot strayed off‑line, forcing her to scramble for a par after a difficult recovery shot. Henseleit, needing a birdie to clinch the title, missed a 10‑foot putt that would have sealed the victory.
The miss sent the match to a second sudden‑death hole. On the second extra hole, Henseleit’s tee shot struck a marshal’s ankle and ricocheted into a bush, leaving her with a difficult lie and ultimately a bogey after a series of recovery shots.
Kuwaki, meanwhile, two‑putted for par and secured the championship. In doing so, she became Japan’s second consecutive AIG Women’s Open champion, following Miyu Yamashita’s triumph the previous year.
The tournament featured several other notable performances. Yealimi Noh entered the final round with a three‑shot lead and briefly extended her advantage to four strokes, but a stretch of three bogeys over five holes on the front nine caused her to slip back, ultimately finishing third behind Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul. Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, both hoping to deliver a home victory for the English crowd, fell short, ending tied for sixth, four strokes behind the leaders.
Ha Ryu, who was chasing a third straight major, finished the week at one under par. Kuwaki’s round began with a strong start; she was tied for second after the first round and quickly took a birdie on the second hole. However, she lost momentum with consecutive bogeys on holes four and five as Noh expanded her lead. Throughout the day, the leaderboard shifted repeatedly, with Kuwaki, Henseleit, and Noh trading strokes on the back nine.
Notable moments included Kuwaki’s birdie on the drivable 13th, Henseleit’s back‑to‑back birdies on holes 11 and 12, and a series of dramatic swings that kept spectators on edge. In the closing stages, Noh bogeyed the 12th, allowing Kuwaki to draw level with a birdie on the 13th. Henseleit responded with a birdie on the 15th after nearly holing her approach, but a three‑putt on the 16th dropped her back.
Kuwaki finished her round with pars, setting a clubhouse target that would later be matched and surpassed in the playoff. The playoff itself was a showcase of mental toughness.
On the first extra hole, Kuwaki’s errant drive forced her to execute a precise up‑and‑down from the middle of the fairway, ultimately salvaging a par. Henseleit’s missed birdie putt left the contest open for a second hole, where her unfortunate tee shot collision with a marshal added a bizarre twist to the drama. Kuwaki’s steady two‑putt for par on the second extra hole clinched the $1.5 million (£1.1 million) prize and marked the biggest win of her career.
After the victory, an emotional Kuwaki, speaking through an interpreter, said, "I just can't believe it. To be on a stage like this is just an honour. Every hole I was just focused on shot by shot, and just tried to enjoy it out there as much as I could.
After Miyu Yamashita's win last year, to be able to win again as a Japanese player is such an amazing feeling." The Ladies European Tour will remain in England for the upcoming PIF London Championship at the Centurion Club, while the LPGA Tour takes a brief pause before the Standard Portland Classic in August. Golf fans can continue to follow the action via Sky Sports, which offers streaming options without a contract, and can also book tee times at over 1,700 courses throughout the UK and Ireland.