Shiho Kuwaki secured victory at the AIG Women’s Open after defeating Esther Henseleit in a tense two-hole play-off at Royal Lytham & St Annes, according to tournament reports. Kuwaki finished regulation play alongside Henseleit at five under par, following a dramatic back-nine sequence that included a 45-foot birdie putt from Henseleit on the 18th hole to force the extra holes.
How the Play-Off Unfolded at Royal Lytham & St Annes
The sudden-death extra session turned on misfortune during the second play-off hole. According to event coverage, Henseleit faced immediate trouble on the extra holes when her drive struck a course marshal and bounced into a thick gorse bush. Unable to salvage her par from the difficult lie, Henseleit opened the door for her opponent. Kuwaki calmly navigated the closing stages, securing the £1.11m top prize just one year after missing the cut at Royal Porthcawl.
Did you know? Shiho Kuwaki’s victory marks the second consecutive year a Japanese player has claimed the Women’s Open title, continuing a strong surge of success for players from Japan on the international golf stage.
Leaderboard Breakdown and Key Contenders
Behind the leading pair, the championship leaderboard featured a tight grouping of international talent. Y Noh finished alone in third place at four under par, while Nelly Korda and Atthaya Thitikul finished two shots back at two under par. Among the prominent English contingent, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad finished the week at one under par, matching the totals of H Ryu and R Takeda.
Further down the leaderboard, Celine Boutier of France and Sára Kousková of the Czech Republic finished level par, while Lucy Li and Lauren Coughlin of the United States finished at one over par.
Selected Final Scores
- Shiho Kuwaki (Jap), Esther Henseleit (Ger): -5 (Kuwaki wins in play-off)
- Y Noh (US): -4
- Nelly Korda (US), Atthaya Thitikul (Tha): -2
- Charley Hull (Eng), Lottie Woad (Eng), H Ryu (Kor), R Takeda (Jap): -1
- Celine Boutier (Fra), Sára Kousková (Cze): E
Reactions From the Champion
Reflecting on her victory, Kuwaki admitted the magnitude of the achievement. “I just can’t believe it,” Kuwaki said, noting that her previous five professional victories had all taken place on her home tour in Japan.
“To be on a stage like this is an honour and every hole I was just focused on shot by shot. I just tried to enjoy it as much as I could,” Kuwaki added. “It’s an amazing feeling to win again as a Japanese player. I hope as team Japan we can continue to light up the golf world.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the AIG Women’s Open?
Shiho Kuwaki won the tournament after defeating Esther Henseleit in a sudden-death play-off.
What was the winning prize for the AIG Women’s Open?
The champion earned a top prize of £1.11m.
Where was the tournament held?
The championship took place at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
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