Kuwaki Claims Maiden Major in Playoff

Drama at Royal Lytham

Shiho Kuwaki is a major champion. The Japanese star outlasted Germany's Esther Henseleit in a gripping two-hole playoff to clinch the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

It is Japan's second consecutive triumph in the event - and frankly, the rest of the world should be worried.

Henseleit's heartbreak

Both players finished regulation at 5-under 279. Kuwaki posted a final-round 1-under 70, while Henseleit drained a sensational 45-foot birdie putt on the 18th to force extra holes.

Yealimi Noh will be kicking herself. She held a three-shot lead heading into Sunday but collapsed to finish one stroke adrift in third.

Chaos in the playoff

The first extra hole was pure theatre. Kuwaki found herself buried in deep grass yet somehow carved a wedge to three feet to save par. Henseleit had a 10-foot birdie putt to seal it - and missed.

The second playoff hole was even more brutal. Henseleit's tee shot struck a marshal's ankle and ricocheted into a bush. A bogey followed. Kuwaki calmly made par to claim her maiden major title.

Ruthless. Clinical. A champion's finish.

VIASPORT is dedicated to women's sport, providing comprehensive coverage of the world's biggest competitions. We follow the leading leagues, tours, and tournaments throughout the season with the latest news, fixtures, results, standings, rankings, transfers, and analysis.

Our football coverage includes competitions such as the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), Women's Super League (WSL), Liga F, Frauen-Bundesliga, Première Ligue, Serie A Femminile, Toppserien, Kvindeliga, and Damallsvenskan. In tennis, we cover the WTA Tour and all four Grand Slam tournaments, while our golf coverage focuses on the LPGA Tour, the Ladies European Tour (LET), and the sport's major championships.

From domestic leagues to the biggest international events, VIASPORT brings together women's football, tennis, and golf in one dedicated destination.