Shiho Kuwaki wins AIG Women's Open after dramatic playoff at Royal Lytham & St Annes

Shiho Kuwaki secured her first major title by defeating Esther Henseleit in a play-off to clinch the AIG Women's Open. 

The 25-year-old from Japan carded a 1-under 71 at Royal Lytham & St Annes to finish on a 72-hole total of 5-under. 

It looked as though she was going to win by one stroke before Henseleit drained a monster putt at the last to extend the contest.

Heneseleit had the advantage of the first hole of sudden-death after Kuwaki found the thick rough with her tee shot.

But she was able to hack out and match Henseleit's par at the 18th to send both players back down the same hole. 

Henseleit then endured a brutal stroke of misfortune after her wayward tee shot hit a marshal and bounced into a gorse bush. 

Like Kuwaki on the hole prior, she was forced to take her medicine and chip out but couldn't match her playing partner's score. 

It is a first major title for Kuwaki, who has won twice this season in Japan. 

"I just can't believe it," Kuwaki said, who is from the same city as 2019 winner Hinako Shibuno.

"To be on a stage like this is just an honour. 

"Every hole I was just focussed on shot by shot and just tried to enjoy it out there as much as I could.

"After [Mayu] Yamashita's win last year, to be able to win again as a Japanese player is such an amazing feeling. 

"I hope we can continue to light up the golf world."

America's Yealimi Noh entered the final round with a three-shot lead but could only manage a 3-over 74. 

Haeran Ryu, who has won two majors this season, and Atthaya 'Jeeno' Thitikul had hopes of winning on Sunday but could only manage rounds of 75 and 73 respectively. 

World number one Nelly Korda carded a final-round 68 to finish inside the top five. 

England's Charley Hull and Lottie Woad had faint hopes of victory too, but both endured frustrating afternoons, finishing on 1-under.

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Henseleit said: "I'm very happy with how I gave myself the opportunity to win today and how I handled myself. 

"Just got a bit unlucky on the second playoff hole there.

"I tried really hard and I guess it just wasn't meant to be today."

She added: "[Shiho] made a great up and down on the first playoff hole and we just said, okay, let's try to get this back into the fairway and give ourselves a chance.

"I didn't manage to save par in the end, but, yeah, you just have to focus on the next putt. 

"We play under pressure every week. Of course it's maybe kind of a bigger stage, but it's still only golf."

Asked about the bad break on 18, 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 or something."

"But, yeah, probably a bit unlucky there. That's just links golf."

Another disappointing major result for Charley Hull

Hull entered the day with faint hopes of claiming a first major title. 

The 30-year-old from Kettering, who has finished runner-up five times in majors - including twice at the AIG Women's Open - admitted after her opening round that she struggles to cope with the weight of expectation.

She got off to the perfect start on Sunday by making a birdie at the 1st. 

But double-bogeys at the 3rd and 7th effectively ended her hopes. 

After hitting the turn in 2-over, Hull responded with a birdie at the 10th but followed it with eight consecutive pars to finish on 1-under overall alongside her compatriot Lottie Woad. 

Woad also endured a frustrating afternoon, dropping a shot right out of the gate and making the turn in 2-over.

She made birdie at the 11th but played her final seven holes in 1-over to sign for a 73.

Hull and Woad spent a long time signing autographs after their rounds but declined to speak to media.