Shiho Kuwaki holds the Women's British Open winner's trophy at a news conference in Tokyo on August 5, 2026. Kuwaki triumphed in a two-hole playoff on August 2 in Lytham St Annes, England. (©SANKEI)
Since she turned pro as a teenager in 2021, Shiho Kuwaki has established herself as a rising star on the JLPGA Tour.
The 23-year-old golfer has also shown that she has the ability to compete ― and excel ― in prestigious overseas tournaments.
Kuwaki claimed her first major international title at the 50th Women's British Open, aka the AIG Women's Open, on Sunday, August 2. The Okayama native defeated Germany's Esther Henseleit in a two-hole playoff to win the title. As a result, she received the $1.5 million USD (¥2.36 billion JPY) winner's check.
Weeks earlier, Kuwaki tied for 14th at the US Women's Open, carding a 1-under 283 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
How did the US Women's Open impact Kuwaki's performance at England's Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in the Women's British Open?
"I didn't go as far as thinking I could win it," Kuwaki said, looking back on the tournament held in early June, according to Kyodo News. "But I gained real confidence from the US Women's Open and was hoping to play to the end (in England) carrying that."
That confidence helped Kuwaki begin the tournament with a strong showing in the opening round, a 5-under 66 that put her two strokes off the pace.
"I managed my game well despite the strong winds and I was able to hole some key putts," Kuwaki told reporters after the first round on July 30.
She then said, "I stayed focused throughout the round and finished with such a good score."
'I Am Just Full of Happiness'
Although Shiho Kuwaki didn't replicate her brilliant opening-round effort in the latter rounds of the Women's British Open, she delivered quality shotmaking at critical moments in the tournament.
Kuwaki carded a 1-under 70 in round two, followed by a 2-over 73 in the next-to-last round.
In the final round, she rebounded with a 70, starting with a 35 on the front nine. She had no bogeys on the final 13 holes of Sunday's round, completing the four-round event at 5-under 279.
Wrapping up her fourth round about 30 minutes later, Henseleit forced the sudden-death playoff with a clutch 40-foot (about 12.2-meter) birdie putt. The LPGA Tour website described the shot as "an incredibly lengthy birdie try."
Kuwaki and Henseleit both made par on the par-4 18th hole to begin the playoff.
After the German had a bogey on the second playoff hole, Kuwaki tapped in a putt and triumphed by a stroke.
It was a thrilling experience for Kuwaki.
"[I] just can't believe I won," Kuwaki told a news conference, adding, "and I am just full of happiness and appreciation for everything that's coming my way."
Kuwaki also recognizes how fortunate she is to be able to compete at the highest level in a professional sport.
"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," she told reporters.
World No 1 Nelly Korda and second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul tied for fourth at 2-under, a reminder that Kuwaki is competing against the best of the best.
Career Highlights for Shiho Kuwaki
After turning pro as an 18-year-old in June 2021, Kuwaki had success in her rookie campaign. She won the JLPGA Rookies Championship Kaga Electronics Cup that December in a playoff.
Fast forward to 2023, and she recorded 10 top-10 finishes in 38 JLPGA Tour events. A year later, she had 17 top-10 finishes (third-best total) in 36 tournaments. It included a trio of victories (Shiseido Ladies Open, Nitori Ladies Tournament and the season-ending Japan LPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup).
In 2026, Kuwaki has collected a pair of tournament titles in Japan, raising her total of domestic titles to six.
She finished atop the leaderboard in May with a 15-under 201 in the Sky RKB Ladies Classic, a three-round event, in Fukuoka.
At the Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies Open Golf Tournament in Kobe, Kuwaki recorded her second JLPGA Tour triumph of the year in mid-June. She shot an 8-under 64 in the first round, followed by a 65 in the next round en route to a 19-under 269.
Kuwaki's consistent play has produced eight top-10 finishes in 13 JLPGA events this year.
She has the third-lowest scoring average (70.7381) on the tour. Shuri Sakuma is No 2 (70.6182) and Fuka Suga tops the chart at 70.2742.
Overseas Success for Japanese Female Golfers
In recent years, Japanese women have captured several titles in golf majors. Hinako Shibuno won the 2019 Women's British Open, and Yuka Saso triumphed in the 2021 and '24 US Women's Open.
Ayake Furue was the winner of the 2024 Evian Championship, while Mao Saigo emerged victorious in the 2025 Chevron Championship.
Not to be overlooked, Miyuu Yamashita took home the top prize from the 2025 Women's British Open, which was held at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales.
What were Kuwaki's thoughts about extending Japan's title reign in the United Kingdom?
"Yeah, after last year, Yamashita's win, and to be able to win again as a Japanese player is such an amazing feeling," Kuwaki said on Sunday. "And I hope as part of Team Japan we can continue to light up the golf world and hope everyone enjoys it as well."
Shiho Kuwaki dedicated her Women's British Open victory to her closest supporters, as well as to the people of Kumamoto Prefecture in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake on July 28.
"I would like to thank my family, I would like to thank my team," Kuwaki told reporters. "And recently we had an earthquake in Kumamoto, and I would like to just give them a speedy recovery and best wishes to them as well."
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Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
