Sunday of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club was jam packed with drama as a Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki and Germany’s Esther Henseleit went right to the wire – taking it all the way to a playoff where Kuwaki secured her first ever major win on the second playoff hole.
The 23-year-old Japanese star had been lingering around the top of the leaderboard all weekend before making her move with a one-under-par final round. Kuwaki made three birdies and two bogeys as she set the clubhouse lead at five-under.
Kuwaki was then joined at the top late on Sunday by Henseleit thanks to a monster birdie putt at the 18th. Henseleit also posted a one-under-par final round.
Speaking on her putt to force the playoff, Henseleit said: “It was a very confusing putt, to be honest, and it was going right to left and everything. The last three feet, it was tracking, and I was like, ‘Oh, okay, it might actually go in.’ It was a great moment when that putt dropped in.”
The pair took to the 18th for the playoff, with both making par at the first attempt. Henseleit suffered a dream crushing bogey at the second time of asking. It was misfortunate for the German with her drive hitting the foot of a spectator and into the nearby thick bush. Kuwaki sealed the win with a par.
“I just can’t believe it. 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,” said Kuwaki.
“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.”
Although pained by the result, two-time LET winner Henseleit was gracious in defeat.
“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 Henseleit.
“It’s always fun to play goof 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,” she added.
American Yealimi Noh, who led at the 54-hole mark, had a tough final day carding a 74 (+3) to finish in solo third place on four-under-par.
“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.
World no.1 Nelly Korda secured a T4 at four-under finish thanks to a final round 68. World no.2 Jeeno Thitikul also finished on the same score.
Six players tied for sixth place on one-under-par including 2025 LET Order of Merit champion Shannon Tan and English duo Charley Hull and Lottie Woad.
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