# Shiho Kuwaki 2026 Women's Open victory

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/shiho-kuwaki-2026-womens-open-victory
> Updated: 2026-08-11T22:58:05.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 3.

Shiho Kuwaki, a 23-year-old Japanese golfer, captured her first major title at the 2026 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in England. She finished the 72-hole tournament at 5-under-par 279, tying Germany’s Esther Henseleit, and won a sudden-death playoff on the second extra hole after Henseleit recorded a bogey. The victory earned Kuwaki a $1.5 million prize and made her the seventh Japanese woman to win a major, continuing a period of success for Japanese golf following Miyu Yamashita’s 2025 triumph. Yealimi Noh finished third, while world number one Nelly Korda tied for fourth.

Following her return to Tokyo, Kuwaki held a press conference at the Japan Press Club, describing the win as an ‘extraordinary match.’ That evening, she attended a performance by Japanese rapper LANA at the Yoyogi National Stadium, noting that the music ‘shook her soul’ and provided mental support for both good and challenging times.

Kuwaki is scheduled to return to the domestic tour at the NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament in Nagano starting August 14. As players prepare for the tournament, Kuwaki, who is currently leading the annual points race, has expressed a focus on immediate performance. During practice sessions, she has spent significant time testing Bridgestone’s new B-FORGED 100CB irons. Other notable competitors for the event include Yuzuki Yoshizawa and Hinako Shibuno. Yoshizawa enters the tournament seeking her second consecutive victory following her win at the Hokkaido Meiji Cup, while Shibuno is focused on improving her world ranking through US-based competition. Additionally, players such as Sakura Koiwai and Yuka Yasuda have been testing new Srixon ZXi5 and ZXi7 iron models during practice.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-11: Shiho Kuwaki and top Japanese golfers prepare for NEC Karuizawa 72

Japanese golfers, including major winner Shiho Kuwaki and rising star Yuzuki Yoshizawa, prepare for the NEC Karuizawa 72 tournament as players also test new Srixon and Bridgestone equipment.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/shiho-kuwaki-returns-to-domestic-tour-following-aig-womens-open-victory

### 2026-08-05: Japanese Golfer Shihō Kuwaki Wins AIG Women's British Open

Japanese golfer Shihō Kuwaki won the AIG Women's British Open, becoming Japan’s seventh female major champion, and later praised a LANA concert in Tokyo.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japanese-golfer-shih-kuwaki-wins-aig-womens-british-open

### 2026-08-02: Shiho Kuwaki Wins 2026 AIG Women’s Open in Playoff

Japanese golfer Shiho Kuwaki claimed her first major, winning the 2026 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes after a two‑hole playoff over Germany’s Esther Henseleit, finishing 5‑under‑par 279 and taking

21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/shiho-kuwaki-wins-womens-british-open-at-royal-lytham

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Cite as: Shiho Kuwaki 2026 Women's Open victory. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/shiho-kuwaki-2026-womens-open-victory