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Shiho Kuwaki Wins 2026 AIG Women’s Open in Playoff
Shiho Kuwaki, a 23‑year‑old Japanese golfer, captured her first major title at the 2026 AIG Women’s Open (Women’s British Open) held at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in England. She finished the 72‑hole tournament at 5‑under‑par 279, tying Germany’s Esther Henseleit.
In a sudden‑death playoff, Kuwaki secured victory on the second extra hole after Henseleit made a bogey. The win earned Kuwaki a $1.5 million prize, made her the seventh Japanese woman and the fifth Japanese player to win a major in the past three years, and continued Japan’s back‑to‑back success after Miyu Yamashita’s 2025 triumph. Yealimi Noh finished third and world‑number‑one Nelly Korda tied for fourth.
Entities
AIG Women's Open · AIG Women’s Open · Esther Henseleit · Japan · Japan LPGA · Royal Lytham & St Annes · Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club · Royal Lytham & St. Annes · Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club · Shiho Kuwaki
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 14 SOURCES] The victory was Kuwaki’s first major title and her first LPGA Tour win. www.essentiallysports.com · deadspin.com · wtop.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.ilpallonegonfiato.it · +6 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The tournament was the 50th edition of the Women’s Open. www.essentiallysports.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.ilpallonegonfiato.it · kaigai.ch · www.fnn.jp · +6 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Kuwaki earned a $1.5 million winner’s purse. www.essentiallysports.com · deadspin.com · wtop.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.ilpallonegonfiato.it · +5 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Kuwaki’s total score was 5‑under‑par 279 for the tournament. www.essentiallysports.com · deadspin.com · wtop.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.ilpallonegonfiato.it · +5 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] Esther Henseleit finished second after missing a 15‑foot birdie putt in the playoff. www.n-tv.de · www.sportschau.de · deadspin.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.ilpallonegonfiato.it · +6 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] Shiho Kuwaki won the 2026 AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. www.essentiallysports.com · deadspin.com · wtop.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.ilpallonegonfiato.it · +6 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] Kuwaki defeated Esther Henseleit in a sudden‑death playoff on the second extra hole. www.essentiallysports.com · www.n-tv.de · www.sportschau.de · deadspin.com · wtop.com · +6 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Kuwaki became the fifth Japanese player to win a major in the last three years. www.essentiallysports.com · deadspin.com · wtop.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.ilpallonegonfiato.it · +5 more