Shiho Kuwaki clinched a breathtaking play‑off victory against Germany's Esther Henseleit at the AIG Women’s Open, delivering an unforgettable conclusion to a tournament that saw Charley Hull and Lottie Woad fall short on the final day. The drama unfolded on the historic fairways of Royal Lytham & St Annes, where Henseleit produced a spectacular 45‑foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to pull level at five under par, matching Kuwaki’s one‑under 70 and erasing a three‑stroke deficit that had seemed insurmountable just hours earlier. Both competitors headed back to the par‑four 18th for a sudden‑death showdown.
Kuwaki, after an errant tee shot that left her in a precarious position, managed to scramble a pars, while Henseleit missed a 10‑foot birdie attempt that would have secured the title outright. The tension escalated on the second extra hole when Henseleit’s tee shot struck a marshal’s ankle and vanished into a nearby bush, forcing her to recover back onto the fairway and ultimately card a bogey. Kuwaki, steady on the greens, two‑putted for par and thus became the second consecutive Japanese champion of the AIG Women’s Open. The tournament had been a roller‑coaster from the start.
Yealimi Noh entered the final round with a three‑stroke lead and briefly stretched it to four, only to stumble with three consecutive bogeys on a five‑hole stretch of her front nine. Those missteps dropped her to third place, behind Nelly Korda and Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul.
Hull and Woad, both hoping to secure a home victory, finished tied for sixth, four strokes behind the leaders, while South Korea’s Haeran Ryu, who was chasing a third straight major, concluded the week at one under par. Kuwaki’s round began with her positioned tied for second after the first round.
She opened with a birdie on the second hole, but a string of bogeys from the fourth hole allowed Noh to extend her advantage. Despite the early setbacks, Kuwaki demonstrated resilience, posting a crucial birdie‑two on the front nine that brought her within a single stroke of the leader.
Henseleit, meanwhile, slipped back with back‑to‑back bogeys on the eighth, but stayed within striking distance. The back nine saw the lead change hands multiple times.
Noh bogeyed the 12th, allowing Kuwaki to seize the moment with a birdie on the driveable 13th. Henseleit responded with consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th, narrowing the gap once more.
As the round progressed, Henseleit almost holed her approach on the par‑four 15th, settling for a close‑range birdie, then three‑putted from the front of the 16th green for a bogey that left her one behind. Kuwaki finished her round with pars, setting a clubhouse target that would later be eclipsed by her own 72nd‑hole birdie, the first play‑off in four years at the Women’s Open. In the play‑off, Kuwaki displayed remarkable composure.
On the opening extra hole she executed a deft up‑and‑down from the middle of the fairway, matching Henseleit’s par. The next hole required only a par to clinch the title, and Kuwaki delivered, securing the $1.5 million (£1.1 million) first‑place prize and the most significant 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 hiatus before the Standard Portland Classic scheduled for August 13‑16. Golf fans can continue to follow the action via Sky Sports or stream the events without a contract. Additionally, golfers looking to play on UK and Irish courses can book rounds at any of the 1,700 venues available through the provided booking platform.