Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki holds up her trophy after winning the 50th AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in a playoff over Esther Henseleit of Germany on Sunday. Image courtesy ladieseuropeantour.com.
By Rahul Banerji
Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki won her first major championship beating Esther Henseleit of Germany in a two-hole playoff at the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open on Sunday.
A five-time winner in Japan, Kuwaki capped a solid run through the week at Royal Lytham & St Annes with earlier rounds of 5 under par 66, 1 under 70 and 2 over 73.
On Sunday, the 23-year-old shot a 1 under 70 with three birdies and two bogeys, to set the clubhouse lead on 5 under 279 as just 11 players finished with under par totals.
Playing behind Kuwaki, Henseleit joined her at the top of the leaderboard with a massive 45-foot birdie putt on 18 to tie scores and they returned to the same par-4 hole for the playoff.
After both made pars on the first playoff hole, Kuwaki found the fairway and green in two, while Henseleit’s drive found the bushes after bouncing off a course marshal.
The German hacked out well but missed her par putt and made bogey leaving Kuwaki to sink her par putt and win the AIG Women’s Open following in the footsteps of 2025 champion Miyu Yamashita.
“I just can’t believe it! Just to be on a stage like this is just an honour and every hole I was focused shot by shot and I just tried to enjoy it out there as much as I could,” Kuwaki said on the Ladies European Tour website.
Amazing feeling
“After last year, Yamashita’s win, and to be able to win again as a Japanese player is such an amazing feeling. I hope as part of Team Japan we can continue to light up the golf world and hope everyone enjoys it as well.”
Henseleit was in the final group of the day and also produced a round of 1 under 70 to total 5 under 279 and force the playoff.
The two-time LET winner had an up-and-down day with bogey on three followed by birdie on six before back-to-back bogeys on holes eight and nine.
Henseleit recovered on the back nine with birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th holes. She made another bogey on 16 but finished in style with the clutch birdie on 18 to secure her place in the playoff.
“I’m very happy with how I gave myself the opportunity to win today and how I handed myself. I just got a bit unlucky on the second playoff hole there. I tried really hard and I guess it just wasn’t meant to be today,” said the German.
“It’s always fun to play good golf and be in contention and that it’s here in England, the fans were amazing today. It was just a great experience and I really enjoyed it.
“I will definitely try to learn out of this experience and the whole week. How I managed to turn the momentum today and there are a lot of things I can be proud of.
Confusing putt
“The putt on 18 was confusing, it was going to be right-to-left. The last three feet it was tracking and I thought it might go in. It was a great moment when it dropped.”
Unfancied overnight leader Yealimi Noh of the US returned a 3 over par 74 to take sole third place on 4 under .
“Obviously, it stings coming up one short and having a not great round, but I’m still very happy to have been in this position,” said Noh.
“Coming down 18 in front of the big crowds and playing at the AIG Women’s Open, it was really special. It reminded me why I love this game and why I’m here.
“I came into the week feeling very unsure how my game was and disappointed in past results. This week has given me so much more confidence and I’m really thankful for that.”
World numbers one and two, Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul shared fourth place on 2 under 271 while six others tied for sixth on 272 including 2025 LET Order of Merit champion Shannon Tan and England’s Charley Hull.
Up next on LET’s schedule is the PIF London Championship at Centurion Club from August 6 to 9.
Also read: Ryu back on song as Indian challenge ends at Women’s Open
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