Colourful Kuwaki Shines Brightly at Royal Lytham

Lytham, England: Shiho Kuwaki showed grit, determination and courage in abundance to win the 50th edition of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The 23-year-old of the colourful outfits and long fingernails entered the clubhouse on Sunday with a one-stroke lead on five-under-par – only for Esther Henseleit to join her on that number by draining a monster birdie putt at the last and force a play-off in the most dramatic fashion.

The pair were required to play the 18th hole until they could be separated with Kuwaki – who, after finding trouble off the tee on the first extra hole, hit an exquisite approach which helped her to save par – prevailing at the second time of asking.

Henseleit suffered a stroke of misfortune when her drive ricocheted off a marshal’s foot into a gorse bush to the right of the fairway which led to the untimeliest of bogeys. 

Kuwaki was safely on the green in two and sank the biggest par putt of her life to claim the title.

It represents a maiden Major victory for the leading player on the LPGA of Japan Tour, in what was just her second championship appearance.

Kuwaki is the fourth Japanese golfer to win the AIG Women’s Open after Ayaka Okamoto (1984), Hinako Shibuno (2019) and last year’s winner Miyu Yamashita.

She’s also added her name to the list of legends who have lifted the trophy at this famous venue – including three-time champion Sherri Steinhauer (1998, 2006) and Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam (2003).

Reflecting on her victory, Kuwaki said: “I can’t believe I won and I’m just full of happiness and appreciation for everything that’s coming my way. I’m not one of the longest hitters, but I feel like my accuracy allows me to compete, and that’s something I am very proud of.

“Just to be on a stage like this is an honour. Every hole I was just focused shot by shot and tried to enjoy it out there as much as I could.

“In terms of what I look like in Japan and probably here as well, I’m probably one of the more ‘out there’ players. But that’s part of what makes me confident and makes me happy, and hopefully I think that led to some good play as well.”

 Just 11 players finished under-par for the week as Royal Lytham’s treacherous pot bunkers wreaked havoc.

American Nelly Korda and Thai Jeeno Thitikul – the top two in the world rankings – finished in a tie for fourth on two-under while half-way leader Ryu Hae-ran and home favourites Charley Hull and Lottie Woad were among the six players who finished a shot further back.

Kuwaki came into the championship in fine fettle, having collected two victories in her homeland in the previous three months.

Near the top of the leaderboard all week in Lytham, she posted rounds of 70, 73 and 70 following her fantastic opening-day 66.

The Okayama native excelled in the key metrics across the four days, finishing top of greens in regulation (81%) and tied-third for fairways hit (79%).

One-under on Sunday, Shiho only needed three birdies on her way to the clubhouse lead, closing out with five steady pars. And she showed astounding resilience to persevere after Henseleit forced a play-off at the last.

Meanwhile, Spaniard Paula Martin Sampedro won the Smyth Salver for the second year in a row with a four-over 288 aggregate. She closed out her championship with a one-over-par final round which included 11 pars in a row.

Her performance secured the title by five shots from Korean Yang Yun-seo, the reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion. Yang and Martin Sampedro were the only amateurs to make the cut.

Martin Sampedro is just the second golfer – after Jeeno – to win the Smyth Salver outright twice since the award was introduced in 1979.