AIG Women’s Open day four: Shiho Kuwaki holds her nerve to win a play-off at Royal Lytham & St Annes
This year’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes was decided by a play-off.
Shiho Kuwaki claimed a memorable triumph in the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes on Sunday.
The Japanese player won with a par on the second play-off hole at the Fylde links after Esther Henseleit could only manage a bogey.
It represents the 23-year-old's first major title and the biggest victory of her career so far.
Henseleit had earlier forced the play-off in dramatic fashion, holing a huge birdie putt on the 18th hole to match Kuwaki at five-under-par.
It is the second consecutive year a Japanese player has won the tournament, following on from Miyu Yamashita’s victory at Royal Porthcawl 12 months ago
“I just can’t believe it,” a smiling Kuwaki said after getting her hands on the trophy.
“Just to be on a stage like this is just an honour and every hole, I was just focused shot by shot and just tried to enjoy it out there as much as I could.
“After last year, Yamashita’s win, and to be able to win again as a Japanese player is 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.”
The play-off meant Kuwaki and Henseleit had to play the 18th hole until they could be separated.
Both players parred it the first time but their second attempt saw the German’s drive hit a marshal’s leg and rebound into a gorse bush.
That forced her to play out and, having left herself with a long putt for par, Henseleit missed and Kuwaki capitalised to claim victory.
Speaking of her fateful tee shot, Henseleit said: “I have no idea, I thought it was further left to be honest - must have gotten some kind of bad bounce.
“At least I still had a shot I guess and could kind of get a good angle going into the green and didn’t have to take an unplayable or something - but, yeah, probably a bit unlucky there. That’s just links golf.”
Overnight leader Yealimi Noh finished third on four-under as five dropped shots meant she carded a three-over 74.
Jeeno Thitikul and Nelly Korda were tied fourth on two-under, the latter one of six players to post a three-under-par score of 68 in the final round.
Haeran Ryu, who had sought a third consecutive major, was another player carding 74 as she was among six players to finish one-under.
Those included the leading British players with Charley Hull having finished with a one-over 72 and Lottie Woad a two-over 73.