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Shiho Kuwaki held her nerve at the second extra hole to beat Esther Henseleit after a wild finish at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Shiho Kuwaki won the 50th playing of the AIG Women’s Open, beating Henseleit at the second extra hole after the German forced a play-off with a monster birdie putt on the 72nd hole.

It was Kuwaki’s first major title. The 23-year-old, the leading player on the LPGA of Japan Tour, closed with a one-under 70 to post five-under 279, then made par at the second play-off hole after Henseleit’s tee shot found the gorse.

“I just can’t believe I won and I’m just full of happiness and appreciation for everything that’s coming my way,” Kuwaki said.

It was only Kuwaki’s second appearance in the Championship. A closing bogey-free stretch under pressure, after an opening 66, carried her through, and she said last year’s missed cut- despite an opening 69- had taught her how to manage tough conditions.

Kuwaki is the fourth Japanese winner of the AIG Women’s Open, following Ayaka Okamoto (1984), Hinako Shibuno (2019) and last year’s champion Miyu Yamashita — extending an extraordinary run for Japanese golf at this Championship.

Shibuno, from the same part of Japan as Kuwaki, sent her a message before the final round. “Even before today she sent me a message saying, play well today,” Kuwaki said. “Just having her like almost like a sister is just so amazing and I’m so super appreciative.”

She was also happy to talk fashion. Known on tour for playing a yellow ball — “it’s easy to watch around the golf course, keep an eye on it” and for mismatched nail colours. “It’s just the way I feel, I like to keep it different.” Her sense of style is part of what makes her play well. “I know in terms of what I look like in Japan and probably here as well I’m probably one of the more out there players, but that’s part of what makes me confident and makes me happy,” she said.

Asked how she planned to celebrate, Kuwaki did not hesitate. “I really love to drink alcohol and just drink and have fun, so I intend to drink a lot tonight,” she said, confirming whiskey and soda as her drink of choice. The win also means she can skip Q-School, which she had been planning to play later this year.

Henseleit’s 45-foot bomb forces sudden death

Kuwaki looked to have the title won in regulation until Henseleit rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt at the last to match her at five-under and force a play-off — the second in the Championship’s history as a major.

“It was a very confusing putt to be honest, and it was going right to left and everything,” Henseleit said. “The last three feet it was tracking and I was, oh, okay it might actually go in. It was a great moment when that putt dropped in.”

Both players parred the first extra hole, Henseleit missing from ten feet for the win and Kuwaki scrambling a four out of thick rough. On the second, Henseleit’s tee shot clattered off a marshal’s leg into a bush. She could only pitch out and make bogey, while Kuwaki found the green and two-putted for the title.

Kuwaki said she waited around 20 minutes without swinging a club as Henseleit’s birdie putt dropped. “My hands were shaking while I was watching her go up to that putt, but I did think to myself as soon as I came off 18 it probably would be a play-off, so I was prepared for that.”

Henseleit left with pride despite rare near-miss

Henseleit took the defeat well, pointing to the position it puts her in ahead of the Solheim Cup and the lessons from a week in which she was rarely troubled by nerves. “It’s always fun to play good golf and to be in contention, and that it’s here in England and the fans were amazing today,” she said. “So it was just a great experience and I really enjoyed it.”

She credited caddie and coach Reece, who has worked with her for five years. “Without him I wouldn’t be here,” she said. “We have made so many improvements together, and we’re just a great team.” Henseleit said she planned to reflect with her team on what could be learned from the week rather than dwell on the finish.

Korda’s off-week still good enough for a share of fourth as home wait goes on

World number one Nelly Korda was some way below her best for three rounds but closed with a three-under 68 to finish tied fourth at two-under alongside Jeeno Thitikul, four shots back. Overnight leader Yealimi Noh, who took a three-shot lead into the final round, could not find her rhythm and slipped to third at four-under after a closing 74.

For the home fans, the wait for a British winner goes on. Lottie Woad and Charley Hull, both chasing a third straight home winner of the Championship at Royal Lytham, finished tied sixth at one-under alongside Haeran Ryu, Wei-Ling Hsu, Shannon Tan and Rio Takeda. Hull’s challenge unravelled with two double bogeys on her final nine.

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