Shiho Kuwaki wins 2026 AIG Women’s Open after two-hole playoff

· Yahoo Sports

LYTHAM ST ANNES, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Shiho Kuwaki of Japan is congratulated by Esther Henseleit of Germany after winning the AIG Women's Open 2026 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes on August 02, 2026 in Lytham St Annes, England. (Photo by Jason Butler/Getty Images) | Getty Images

That’s a wrap on major championship season for the LPGA Tour.

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Shiho Kuwaki prevailed over Esther Henseleit at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, and in the process she took home her first major championship in only her fourth career start.

Kuwaki began the week as a member of the JLPGA Tour and made it a point to do all she could to secure this victory. It took a playoff victory over Esther Henseleit as noted, but Shiho led the field in greens hit in regulation with 58. She was dialed in.

Given her JLPGA status, Shiho became the first non-member to win the AIG Women’s Open since Sophia Popov did so in 2020. Should Shiho accept immediate LPGA Tour membership she will earn 650 points in the Race to the CME Globe and would be the third Rolex First-Time Winner in 2026 specifically.

While Kuwaki took home the title, Esther Henseleit deserves some praise as well. Esther notably deserves kudos for how she forced the playoff to begin with. Look at this insane putt. Talk about nerves of steel.

The majors are indeed done for the season, but remember that it is a Solheim Cup year. On the day after the tournament wrapped it was announced that Angel Yin and Jennifer Kupcho have clinched spots on the United States side, so we can expect more updates of that variety as the summer ends and fall begins.

Onward.

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