Safety · Lytham St Annes
Japan's Shiho Kuwaki wins Women's Open in playoff after Henseleit's ball strikes marshal
Japan's Shiho Kuwaki defeated Germany's Esther Henseleit on the second playoff hole at Royal Lytham & St Annes to win her first major title, after Henseleit's tee shot struck a marshal and rolled into a gorse bush.
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In brief
Henseleit's tee shot on the second playoff hole struck a volunteer marshal's ankle and ricocheted into a gorse bush, handing Kuwaki a decisive advantage.
The 23-year-old from Okayama became the seventh Japanese woman to win a major and the second consecutive Japanese Women's Open champion after Miyu Yamashita in 2025.
Overnight leader Yealimi Noh held a three-shot advantage after 54 holes and briefly extended it to four before bogeys at the 7th, 8th and 12th dropped her to third place at four under.
Henseleit holed a putt estimated between 40 and 45 feet on the 72nd hole to tie Kuwaki at five under and force sudden death.
- 72nd holeHenseleit holes a 40-to-45-foot birdie putt to tie Kuwaki at five under and force a playoff.
- Playoff hole 1Kuwaki saves par from deep rough. Henseleit misses a 12-to-15-foot birdie putt for the win.
- Playoff hole 2Henseleit's tee shot strikes a marshal and rolls into a gorse bush. Kuwaki makes par to win the title.
Final round chase
Shiho Kuwaki began the final round three shots behind overnight leader Yealimi Noh. The 23-year-old from Okayama steadily climbed the leaderboard as Noh's advantage crumbled. Kuwaki moved into a share of the lead with a birdie at the 13th and posted the clubhouse target at five under par with a closing one-under 70. Noh, who had extended her lead to four shots early in the round, bogeyed the seventh, eighth and 12th holes and finished third at four under after a 74.
Esther Henseleit produced a back-nine surge to force extra holes. The German birdied the 11th, 12th and 15th to draw level with Kuwaki, then dropped a shot at the 16th. Facing a must-make birdie on the 18th, Henseleit rolled in a putt from roughly 40 to 45 feet for a 70, tying Kuwaki at five-under 279 and triggering the playoff.
Playoff drama
The sudden-death playoff returned to the 18th hole. On the first extra hole, Kuwaki drove into heavy rough and had to lay up short of the green, but hit a wedge to three feet and saved par. Henseleit missed a birdie attempt from 12 to 15 feet that would have won the title.
On the second playoff hole, Kuwaki split the fairway with her drive. Henseleit's tee shot drifted right and struck the lower leg of a course marshal. The ball ricocheted into the bottom of a gorse bush. Henseleit managed to chip out but could not convert a 12-foot par putt. Kuwaki made a routine par to seal the championship.
“I just can't believe it. I am filled with joy.”
Japanese succession
Kuwaki became the second consecutive Japanese winner of the Women's Open, following Miyu Yamashita's victory at Royal Porthcawl in 2025. She is the seventh Japanese woman to capture a major title and the fourth Japanese golfer to win this specific championship. Her previous best major finish was a tie for 14th at this year's US Women's Open. She turned professional in 2021 and won the Japan LPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup in 2024.
“To be able to win again as a Japanese player is just such an amazing feeling, and I hope as part of Team Japan we can continue to light up the golf world and hope everyone enjoys it as well.”
Contenders fade
World number one Nelly Korda closed with a three-under 68 to finish tied for fourth at two under alongside world number two Jeeno Thitikul. Korda had been chasing a third major title of 2026 after winning the Chevron Championship and US Women's Open. South Korea's Haeran Ryu, who entered the week seeking a third consecutive major after victories at the LPGA Championship and Evian Championship, bogeyed the 17th and 18th holes to finish tied for sixth at one under. England's Charley Hull and Lottie Woad also finished in that group at one under.
Prize and milestone
Kuwaki earned a tournament-record $1.5 million for the victory. The event marked the 50th edition of the Women's Open, played over a Royal Lytham & St Annes course featuring 166 bunkers. Kuwaki had missed the cut in her only previous Women's Open appearance at Royal Porthcawl in 2025.
- Shiho Kuwaki (JPN)
- -5 score to par
- Esther Henseleit (GER)
- -5 score to par
- Yealimi Noh (USA)
- -4 score to par
- Nelly Korda (USA)
- -2 score to par
- Jeeno Thitikul (THA)
- -2 score to par
- Charley Hull (ENG)
- -1 score to par
- Haeran Ryu (KOR)
- -1 score to par
- Lottie Woad (ENG)
- -1 score to par
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Sources and context
- AdnkronosJapan's Shiho Kuwaki Wins Women's British Open
- RFILa japonesa Kuwaki gana el Abierto Británico femenino de golf
- Irish IndependentKuwaki claims AIG Women's Open after play-off drama as Harrington fades to third in Portugal
- The GuardianShiho Kuwaki holds her nerve in playoff drama to complete shock Women's Open triumph
- Shiho Kuwaki
- Japanese golfer who won the 2026 Women's Open, her first major title
- Esther Henseleit
- German golfer who finished runner-up after a playoff at the 2026 Women's Open
- Yealimi Noh
- American golfer who held the 54-hole lead and finished third at the 2026 Women's Open
- Nelly Korda
- World number one who finished tied fourth at the 2026 Women's Open
- Jeeno Thitikul
- World number two who finished tied fourth at the 2026 Women's Open
- Haeran Ryu
- South Korean golfer seeking a third consecutive major who finished tied sixth at the 2026 Women's Open
- Charley Hull
- English golfer who finished tied sixth at the 2026 Women's Open
- Lottie Woad
- English golfer who finished tied sixth at the 2026 Women's Open
- Miyu Yamashita
- Defending Women's Open champion from Japan who won at Royal Porthcawl in 2025
- Places
- United States
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