Shiho Kuwaki is a Major champion after defeating Esther Henseleit in a two-hole playoff at the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open held at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The Japanese star has been near the top of the leaderboard all week with an opening 66 (-5) followed by a 70 (-1) and a 73 (+2).

On the final day, she held her nerve to shoot a round of 70 (-1), which included three birdies and two bogeys, to set the clubhouse lead on five-under-par.

After being joined by Germany’s Henseleit at the top of the leaderboard, the duo headed back down 18 and each made a par on the first playoff hole.

The 23-year-old then found the fairway and green in two on her second attempt, while Henseleit’s ball went in the gorse off the tee.

Despite recovering well, the German missed her par putt and made bogey leaving Kuwaki to sink her par putt and win the 2026 AIG Women’s Open following in the footsteps of 2025 champion Miyu Yamashita.

“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.”

Germany’s Henseleit was in the final group of the day and also produced a round of 70 (-1) to put herself on five-under-par and in the playoff.

The two-time LET winner had an up-and-down day with a bogey on the third followed by a birdie on the sixth before back-to-back bogeys on holes eight and nine.

Henseleit found some form on the back nine with birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th holes. She made another bogey on 16 but finished in style with a 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 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.

“The putt on 18 [in regulation] 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.

“It was a lot of fun. I don’t know what my reaction was but I saw the second half Reece’s celebration, and it was fun to hear everyone go crazy. That’s a moment I’ll definitely remember for a long time.”

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.

“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 number one Nelly Korda and world number two Jeeno Thitikul shared fourth place on two-under-par.

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.

In the LET Order of Merit, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander extended her lead at the summit and has 1,899.98 points.

Germany’s Henseleit jumped up from 38th place to sixth following her runner-up finish at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Shiho Kuwaki Wins Maiden Major Title With Playoff Victory at 2026 AIG Women’s Open

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