Kuwaki wins Women’s Open after playoff

What's happened

Shiho Kuwaki of Japan defeats Esther Henseleit in a playoff to win the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, sealing back-to-back titles for Japan. Henseleit’s late rally forced extra holes after Kuwaki matched the lead with a 45-foot birdie on 18.

What's behind the headline?

Analysis

• Context: Kuwaki’s victory marks Japan’s back-to-back Women’s Open wins, a notable milestone that underscores the strength of Japanese players on the major stage.
• Key threads: a dramatic finish on the last hole, a playoff decision on the 18th, and a late surge from Henseleit that wasn’t enough to seal a first major crown.
• Implications: The win could shift momentum in the women’s tour, boosting Kuwaki’s profile and inspiring a new wave of contenders. Expect renewed focus on the Women’s Open and future majors as rising talents push to translate form into major success.
• Questions: Will this win catalyze sustained success for Kuwaki at majors? How will Henseleit regroup after a cruel twist of fate in the playoff?

How we got here

The Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes unfolded with a tense final round as Kuwaki, a 23-year-old with little prior major championship exposure, overtook rival Henseleit in dramatic fashion. Henseleit had forced a playoff with a 45-foot birdie on the final hole, while Korean-born etc.

Our analysis

The Guardian and Independent provide the playoff drama and quotes from Kuwaki, while coverage highlights Noh’s strong final round and Korda’s struggles. The Guardian frames Kuwaki’s victory as historically significant for Japan, with the Independent detailing the playoff dynamics and final standings.

Go deeper

• Will Kuwaki build on this major win in upcoming events?
• Can Henseleit rebound quickly from this setback to win future majors?

More on these topics

• Yealimi Noh - Golfer

  Yealimi Noh is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the LPGA Tour. She turned pro in 2019 and qualified for the 2020 LPGA season after finishing 3rd in the qualifying school.

• Charley Hull - English professional golfer

  Charley Esmee Hull is an English professional golfer who has achieved success both on the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour, winning honours as Rookie of the Year, becoming the youngest competitor to participate in the international Solheim Cup match

• Nelly Korda - American golfer

  Nelly Korda is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour, where she has won six times. She played on the 2019 Solheim Cup.

• Esther Henseleit - German professional golfer

  Esther Henseleit is a German professional golfer and member of the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour.

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.

• Japan - Country in East Asia

  Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.