On a sun-baked, tension-charged weekend at Royal Lytham & St Annes, 23-year-old Japanese golfer Shiho Kuwaki etched her name into golf history, clinching her first-ever major championship title at the 50th edition of the Women’s British Open. The victory came after a nerve-wracking two-hole playoff against Germany’s Esther Henseleit, capping a pulsating finale that lived up to the tournament’s milestone anniversary.
Kuwaki entered the final day of regulation play locked in a tight battle for the top spot, wrapping up four rounds at an impressive five under par. It was Henseleit who forced the overtime showdown, sinking a stunning long-range birdie putt on the 18th green to match Kuwaki’s final score, sending the crowd into a frenzy and setting the stage for the dramatic playoff.
The first extra hole ended with both players tied: Kuwaki landed a precise wedge shot to secure par, while Henseleit’s 15-foot title-winning putt rolled just wide of the cup. On the second playoff hole, a costly miscue derailed Henseleit’s bid: her tee shot deflected off a course marshal and landed deep in thick gorse bushes, leaving her with an impossible recovery that only resulted in a bogey. Kuwaki stayed calm under pressure, rolling in a short putt to seal the historic win.
This breakthrough comes as a stunning rise for the young Japanese pro, who only turned professional in 2021. Her previous best finish at a major was a tie for 14th place at this year’s Women’s US Open, and she missed the halfway cut in her only prior Women’s British Open appearance last year. Ahead of the tournament, she already claimed one title in 2024, winning the Japan LPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup. Renowned for her bold fashion choices, Kuwaki turned heads all week in a bright mint green top paired with a luminous green golf ball—an eye-catching look that matched her standout performance on the course.
With the win, Kuwaki extends Japan’s recent dominance at the Women’s British Open, becoming the second consecutive Japanese golfer to lift the trophy after Miyu Yamashita’s 2023 victory in Porthcawl. She is also the fourth Japanese woman to claim the title overall, following Ayako Okamoto and Hinako Shibuno alongside Yamashita. Beyond the glory of the major title, Kuwaki also takes home a tournament record $1.5 million in prize money, a payout that pales in comparison to the achievement for the rising star.
In the wake of her win, Kuwaki took a moment to send support to her home country, which recently faced a devastating earthquake that killed at least 36 people. “Recently we had an earthquake in Japan and I’d like to wish people a speedy recovery and best wishes,” she told reporters after the win, adding, “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.”
Overnight leader Yealimi Noh saw her three-shot lead slip away on Sunday, finishing the tournament in third place at four under par. World number one Nelly Korda, who was chasing a historic third major title of 2025 after winning the Chevron Championship and Women’s US Open earlier this year, settled for a share of fourth place alongside Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul at two under par. South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran, also vying for a third 2025 major title after clinching the Women’s PGA Championship and Evian Championship, finished tied for sixth at one under par.
Speaking after her win, Kuwaki shared she stayed focused on one shot at a time throughout the tense final round and playoff. “I just can’t believe it. 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,” she said, capping a transformative trip to the UK that confirms her status as one of golf’s most exciting rising stars.