Germany's Esther Henseleit delivered a stunning climax to regulation play at Royal Lytham & St Annes, sinking an improbable long-range birdie putt on the 18th green to force a play-off with Japan's Shiho Kuwaki. The shot, which commentators described with astonishment, prevented Kuwaki from claiming an outright victory and sent the championship to an unexpected deciding contest.

Kuwaki ultimately prevailed in the two-hole play-off to secure the £1.11m prize and the Women's Open title, becoming the second consecutive Japanese player to win the championship. The victory marked a remarkable turnaround for Kuwaki, who had missed the cut at the same venue just 12 months earlier, demonstrating her resurgence in form at one of golf's most prestigious tournaments.