Shiho Kuwaki of Okayama, Japan has won the 2026 British Women’s Open. Kuwaki won in a playoff as she defeated Esther Henseleit of Varel, Germany.
Kuwaki and Henseleit finished 72 holes at five-under-par. Then in a playoff, Kuwaki and Henseleit played two playoff holes. They both parred the first playoff hole. Then the second time they went 18, Kuwaki had a score of par and Henseleit had a bogey score.
There were three other golfers in contention. Yealimi Noh of San Francisco, California, finished in third place at -4. Noh was the round three leader at -7, but had a poor final round as she went three over par and one stroke back. Then, world number one Nelly Korda of Bradenton, Florida and world number two Atthaya Thitikul of Ban Pong District, Thailand were tied for fourth place at -2. Korda is a four-time major champion, and had an excellent Sunday as she shot a three-under-par 68.
Kuwaki had a first round score of five-under-par 66, a second round score of one-under-par 70, a third round score of two-over-par 73, and a fourth round score of one-under-par 70. In the first round, she had six birdies and one bogey. In the second round, Kuwaki had four birdies and three bogeys. In the third round, Kuwaki had four bogeys and two birdies, and in the fourth round, she had three birdies and two bogeys.
In the British Women’s Open history, Kuwaki becomes the fourth Japanese player to win the tournament all-time. She follows Ayako Okamoto (when the British Women’s Open was not a major in 1984), Hinako Shibuno in 2019, and Miyu Yamashita in 2025.
