Kuwaki Shiho wins Women's British Open at Royal Lytham St Annes, England; Seventh Japanese to win an LPGA major

Kuwaki Shiho wins Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham St Annes, England; Seventh Japanese to win an LPGA major

Golf - Women’s British Open 2026: Japan’s Kuwaki Shiho triumphs on second play-off hole

Women’s British Open 2026: Japan’s Kuwaki Shiho triumphs on second play-off hole

The 23-year-old beats out Germany’s Esther Henseleit to win a second straight Women’s British Open championship for Japan at Royal Lytham & St Annes. She is the seventh Japanese to win an LPGA major

Kuwaki Shiho brought home Japan’s second straight Women’s British Open title after edging Esther Henseleit of Germany on a second play-off hole on Sunday (3 August).

Henseleit forced the tie-breaker with a birdie on the 18th at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire, England, that left her level with Kuwaki at 5-under 279.

The 23-year-old Kuwaki, who is based in her home country, would have the last laugh however as the Japanese tapped for par on the second extra hole while Henseleit bogeyed to net the final women’s golf major of 2026.

World No. 1 and winner of this year’s first two majors, Nelly Korda , ended up with a share of fourth place at 2-under 282.

Kuwaki followed in the footsteps of Yamashita Miyu last year to become the seventh-ever Japanese player to win an LPGA major. As a result of Sunday’s victory, she will enter the LPGA Tour full-time in 2027.

“I can’t believe it,” said Kuwaki, who closed with a 1-under 70 on this day. “It’s an honour just to be able to compete on this stage. I was trying to have as much fun as possible on each and every hole.

“I don’t want this win to be seen as a flash in the pan. I don’t want to be complacent. I want to get stronger so I’ll keep working.”

Asked how she was going to celebrate, Kuwaki drew laughs and applause as she said, “I like to drink so I’m going to drink - a lot.”

Picture by 2026 Getty Images