Kuwaki beats Henseleit in play-off to win Women’s Open

Shiho Kuwaki claimed the Women's Open championship after prevailing over Esther Henseleit through a two-hole sudden-death playoff at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Henseleit forced the extra rounds with a clutch 45-foot putt on the 18th green, but the German's prospects collapsed when her drive on the opening playoff hole struck a course marshal and careened into thick gorse, leaving her unable to recover and gifting Kuwaki the title.

The victory represents a remarkable turnaround for the Japanese player, who had missed the cut at the same event twelve months prior. Kuwaki's triumph extends Japan's success in major championships and comes as American Yealimi Noh, who led for much of the day, finished one stroke back. World number one Nelly Korda ended two shots adrift despite mounting a late challenge, having been hampered by a double-bogey in the previous round.