Newest Japanese star Kuwaki used ‘confident’ and ‘out there’ personality to help claim Women’s British in playoff

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LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki made a miraculous par save to win her first major title at the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s British Open in a dramatic two-hole playoff against Germany’s Esther Henseleit at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

“I just can’t believe. I just can’t believe it,” an emotional said Kuwaki after breaking through the major barrier.

The 23-year-old had never finished in the top 10 at a major in six career starts but played with the poise of a multiple-time champion when her back was against the wall in several nerve-wracking moments, including when Henseleit forced extra holes with a 40-foot birdie bomb to shoot 70 and tie Kuwaki (70) at five under.

After bogeys at Nos. 4 and 5 in regulation, Kuwaki was five shots behind the lead after five holes on Sunday but made birdies at Nos. 9 and 13 to climb back into the mix. With five straight closing pars, Kuwaki eventually posted the clubhouse lead at five under par. Moments later, Henseleit sank her epic 72nd hole birdie.

“It was a very confusing putt to be honest, and it was going right to left and everything,” Henseleit said. “It was a great moment when that putt dropped in.”

On the duo’s first extra trip down Royal Lytham’s historic 18th, Kuwaki hit an errant drive that found thick rough on a mound behind a fairway bunker. She hacked out down the fairway and hit a career-defining third shot that settled to four feet and she made a sixth consecutive par. When Henseleit missed her birdie putt, the pair returned to the 18th tee for a second extra hole.

It was then World No. 43 Henseleit’s turn for an errant drive—and it cost her. Henseleit suffered a horrible break when her drive to the right rough struck a volunteer’s foot and careened into a gorse bush.

“Must have gotten some kind of bad bounce,” Henseleit said. “At least I still had a shot I guess and could kind of get a good angle going into the green and didn’t have to take an unplayable. Probably a bit unlucky there. That’s just links golf.”

Henseleit, 27, pitched out to the fairway and her eventual bogey meant she lost to Kuwaki’s par, her seventh straight.

“Just to be on a stage like this is just an honor, and every hole I was just focused shot by shot and just tried to enjoy it out there as much as I could,” Kuwaki said after becoming the second consecutive Japanese golfer to win the British after Miyu Yamashita.

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Warren Little

Kuwaki hails from Okayama, the same city as 2019 Women’s British Open champion Hinako Shibuno. Kuwaki said Shibuno has become like “a sister” and sent her an encouraging message before the final round urging her to “play well.”

Kuwaki is also a colorful character whose outfits are bold and she plays with a yellow golf ball and long, bright fingernails.

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“I’m probably one of the more ‘out there’ players and that’s what makes me confident on the course,” Kuwaki said.

American Yealimi Noh was the overnight leader by three shots but struggled to a 74 for third place, her equal-best finish at a major.

“Obviously it stings coming up one short and having a not great round, but I’m still very happy to have been in this position,” the Californian Noh said. “And coming down 18 in front of the big crowds and playing at the Open, it was really special. Reminded me why I love this game and why I’m here.”

World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul also struggled on the final day, dropping two shots during a 73 and at two under she was tied fourth. The Thai golfer will have to wait in the search for her first major victory.

“I finish in really good, like, positive one,” Thitikul said. “Links is not going to be my ideal type of golf I going to play, but when we facing the challenge and then we trying to stay out there, hang in there, and then I’m proud of what I did this week.”

World No. 1 Nelly Korda was also tied for fourth place at two under following a 68. She won the first two majors of the year and needed a victory this week to capture the career Grand Slam and entry into the LPGA’s Hall of Fame.

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David Cannon

Haeran Ryu, the winner of the last two majors, shot 74 and dropped to a tie for sixth at one under. The South Korean was attempting to become just the fifth LPGA player to win three consecutive majors and the third to do so in the same season.

But Ryu said the wind and Royal Lytham’s 168 bunkers were a challenge.

“I’m so happy right now just on today, because I’m always worried about the British like windy and a lot of bunkers there,” Ryu said. “But I think this week is pretty much good play in my life in the British Open, so I’m so happy right now to be done.”

Ryu was tied at one under with five other players including home heroes, World No. 7 Charley Hull (72) and Lottie Woad (73).

But all eyes were on Kuwaki in the end, with her collected the trophy on the 18th green in the shadows of the Lytham clubhouse. Asked how she intends on celebrating, Kuwaki drew laughter when detailing her Sunday night plans.

“I love to drink alcohol and have fun and I intend to drink a lot tonight,” Kuwaki said through a translator. Whiskey soda, she revealed, would be the well-deserved drink of choice.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com