Shiho Kuwaki of Japan captured the Women’s British Open title on Sunday after a tense playoff at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. The 23-year-old secured her first major championship victory by defeating Germany’s Esther Henseleit on the second extra hole. Kuwaki finished her final round with a 1-under 70, eventually finding herself in a playoff after Henseleit holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th to force the tie at 5-under 279.
In the sudden-death playoff, the two competitors faced difficult conditions. On the first extra hole, Kuwaki narrowly saved par from thick grass near a bunker. Henseleit had a chance to seal the win but missed a 15-foot birdie putt, sending the match to a second hole. On the second playoff hole, Henseleit’s tee shot landed near a gorse bush. Despite a recovery shot to the fairway, she failed to convert her par putt. Kuwaki then tapped in for par to clinch the trophy.
This victory marks the second consecutive year a Japanese player has won the Women’s British Open. Kuwaki joins a growing list of Japanese players who have claimed LPGA major titles in recent seasons, including Ayaka Furue, Yuka Saso, and Miyu Yamashita. Her performance at this tournament solidifies her status among the top competitors in women’s golf.
Third-placed Yealimi Noh held the lead earlier in the day but struggled with late bogeys, finishing one shot out of the playoff. The tournament field saw strong performances from top-ranked players, yet Kuwaki’s bogey-free play over the final 13 holes proved decisive. The win provides a significant career milestone for the 23-year-old, who remains focused on consistent, shot-by-shot play at the highest levels of professional golf.