Shiho Kuwaki wins AIG Women’s Open playoff


Shiho Kuwaki poses in front of the iconic Royal and Lytham clubhouse – image R&A via Getty Images 

Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki recorded a final round of 1 under 70 to come from three behind the 54-hole lead at the AIG Women’s Open Championship and then emerge the winner of a two-hole playoff against Germany’s Esther Henseleit.

Playing two groups ahead of Henseleit and third round leader, Yealimi Noh, Kuwaki birdied the second before dropping shots at the fourth and fifth and holes but on a day where blustery winds and tough pin positions made an already demanding Royal Lytham & St Annes layout even more so, the 23 year old played her last 13 holes in 2 under and waited while those behind tried to match her 5 under total.

Kuwaki, who has been a prolific winner on the Japan LPGA Tour but without status on the LPGA Tour, needed to wait 25 minutes or so while the final two groups attempted to join the leader, and it boiled down to the final pairing of Noh and Henseleit needing to birdie the last to do just that.

Both found the green, but Henseleit, from some 40 feet away, holed out, ensuring the event would need extra holes to determine the winner.

Kuwaki and Henseleit returned to the 18th, and it would be Kuwaki who found the thick rough short of a fairway bunker and could only advance her second 70 yards or so. Henseleit, in the meantime, hit her approach to 25 feet and appeared to have the front running before Kuwaki pitched from 100 yards to 4 feet. Henseleit missed, and Kuwaki holed for par, and so it was back to the 18th once again.

Henseleit’s tee shot at the second attempt was right and heading close to the gorse bushes before it hit a Marshall’s foot and bounced right into a near unplayable lie. Kuwaki had found the fairway and waited as Henseleit advanced her ball about 60 yards to set up a very similar but reverse situation to the first playoff hole after Kuwaki’s second finished 25 feet left of the hole.

Henseleit pitched to 15 feet or so but on a similar line to her remarkable birdie putt in regulation time, she was unable to save par, and when Kuwaki two-putted for par the title had gone to Japan for the second consecutive year and for the fourth time in the history of the event.

Overnight leader, Yealimi Noh, from the USA finished third on four-under-par after a closing 74 while World numbers one and two Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul tied for fourth place on two-under, with English pair Lottie Woad and Charley Hull and South Korea’s Haeran Ryu a shot further back.

“I just can’t believe it,” said the champion. “I was planning to go play in Q-School later this year so I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Yeah, just to have all those things you said coming my way is just something that’s very, very special and hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”

When asked about her style on the golf course, Kuwaki responded: “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.

“I was planning to go play in Q-School later this year so I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Just to have all those things coming my way is just something that’s very, very special and hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko finished as the leading Australasian in 20th place. Ko birdied the second hole to move within three of what would eventually be the playoff score but played the remaining 16 holes in 4 over par to finish at 2 over.

Fellow New Zealander Amelia Garvey posted one of her best performances in professional golf, with a six-birdie final round of 68 to finish 3 over and tied for 23rd.

Hannah Green was another shot further back while Robyn Choi struggled to a final round of 78 to finish in a share of 47th.

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Yealimi Noh moves three clear at Royal Lytham – Lydia Ko stays in touch


Yealimi Noh – facing the biggest day of her career – image R&A via Getty Images 

American Yealimi Noh, at 7 under, takes a three-shot lead over five players into the final round of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes after the leading contenders through 36 holes battled an increasingly demanding layout.

Noh, who has won only once since joining the LPGA Tour in 2020, faces the prospect of winning not only a second title but a major at that and one carrying a first prize of US$1.5 million, so tomorrow is shaping as the biggest day of the 25-year-old’s career.

Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki, Haeran Ryu from South Korea, Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, Lucy Li of the USA, and Germany’s Esther Henseleit are those golfers in a share of second place at 4 under.

Noh began the day in a share of 3rd place, and two behind the then leader, Haeran Ryu, and bogeys at her 4th and 5th holes suggested staying in touch might have been a struggle. But Noh was not alone in coming to terms with the windy conditions, and although Ryu made a fast start to the day, she began dropping shots soon after, and Noh’s recovery for a round of 69 saw her move three clear as she finished her round.

Earlier in the day, Japan’s Ayaka Furue had produced four birdies and an eagle for a round of the day 65 to move from just inside the cutline to what would eventually be 47 places better and in a share of 8th and Esther Enseleit also made considerable ground with her round of 67.

At the completion of the day only 13 players are under par, and those at 1 under are just six from the lead and, more importantly, in the event of a Noh struggling with the demands of leading a major, they are just three from second place. No player has held a three-shot lead or better in this event previously and failed to go on and win, but the task will not be an easy one.

“Yeah, I had a little bit of a rough start, a couple bogeys on the front nine, ” said Noh. “Actually a chip-in par save on the second, which was nice. Yeah, I just fell out of tempo a little bit and then got it together for the back nine, and it was really solid. Had some good par saves.”

Noh paid credit to her fiancée for improving her mindset following some ordinary efforts of late. “He’s been the best supporter, my biggest supporter besides my parents. I really wouldn’t be able to do anything without him, especially out on the golf course. You know, we’re always so stressed, and whether it’s going good or bad, it’s a lot with golfers. He’s been a really great supporter. He also plays golf, and he’s really good, so he understands a lot of it.

“Last week I was able to relax more. He reminded me that golf could be fun, like I said yesterday, just that it’s just a game. So he’s really helped me be in a good mindset for this week.”

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko heads the Australasians in a share of 12th place, her round of even par 71 today keeping her in touch of a high finish if she can produce a strong round tomorrow.

Robyn Choi, who is playing her first AIG Women’s Open has impressed with her showing, the Queenslander in a share of 16th place at 1 over par, while Hannah Green is two shots further back at 3 over.

 

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Lydia Ko – in action during round 3 – image R&A via Getty Images 

 

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Haeran Ryu leads again, Ko and Choi lead Australasians at Women’s Open


Haeran Ryu during today’s second round at Royal Lytham & St Annes – image R&A via Getty Images 

Despite a slow start to her second round at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, South Korea’s Haeran Ryu has kept alive her hopes of a third consecutive major title with a round of 69 to take the 36-hole lead by one over Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki with Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and American Yealimi Noh another shot back in third place.

Bogeys at the 3rd and a double at the 5th today saw Ryu drop off the pace, but she was almost faultless from there, picking up five birdies, including one at the last, to move past the opening-round leader, Thitikul, and Kuwaki, both of whom had played earlier in the day.

Having won the KPMG Women’s PGA and Amundi Evian Championships at her last two starts, Ryu is chasing a unique treble of major championships. It has been 13 years since Korean Inbee Park won three in a row in 2013.

Moving from 13th in the Rolex Ranking at the beginning of the year to now 3rd, Ryu is seemingly on track to challenge Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul for the positions above her currently.

“I’m just trying to have fun on the course because this course is a lot of stress in the golf because a lot of bunkers and green is tough, so — and then windy, too — so just trying to find the fun in the golf course with my caddie,” said Ryu.

When asked how long it has taken her to become comfortable with a lead given her recent efforts Ryu responded: “I have been playing golf almost 15 years, so I think I’ve learned a lot of experience for the good position. So that’s why these days I’m pretty calm and pretty happy on the golf course.

“Yeah, I think I don’t want to focus on other players. I just keep thinking about my golf and the golf course. So because a lot of great players in here, that’s why I just want to think about my golf. Because this is a major; nobody knows what comes up. So I just want tomorrow to be happy with my play and just think about my swing and, yeah, that’s it.”

Australasian hopes are led by New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and a surprising performance by Open Championship debutante, Queenslander Robyn Choi, both at 1 under, six shots behind the lead and tied for 14th.

Ko’s mid-round stretch of three birdies in four holes around the turn played a big role in her round of 1 under 70, and she is not without at least some hope of winning this title for a second time, having won at St Andrews in 2024.

“I think this is the toughest Women’s Open championship venue I have ever played,” said Ko earlier in the week. “I don’t know what I thought when I played in 2018. I might have been in a lot of bunkers that are on the golf course that are in my memory bank. It actually feels like a very new course to me. I know they made a little bit of adjustments on a couple of the holes.

“But, yeah, it’s a hard golf course. Even on a pretty perfect day like today it’s playing hard. So when you win on that kind of caliber of golf course, I think it’s always something that you come off feeling extra proud.”

Choi has done remarkably well in her first attempt in this championship and in her first real experience on this style of golf course.

“I think I just really drove it well,” said Choi.  “I tried to avoid all the pot bunkers out there. I think that was kind of huge.

“But just trying to keep steady golf, try not to make mistakes. I think trying not to make bogey is kind of the key out here rather than trying to play aggressive and making birdies. So just tried to stick to that game plan.

Honestly, it’s been great. It is kind of what I have been expecting: Tough conditions, major, windy.

“But, you know, I think I feel like after playing the two rounds I feel like my game is going to improve a lot just playing in this kind of condition. I’ve never really played on this style of golf course. I mean, in Australia, but I still feel like it’s kind of different.

“Yeah, I think I’ll just become a better player honestly after playing in those tough conditions.”

Hannah Green is at 2 over and tied for 31st, while New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey is the only other Australasian to make the weekend at 4 over, which was the cut score.

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Six Australians take on US Women’s Amateur Championship


Ella Scaysbrook – during last year’s road to the semi-finals at Bandon Dunes – image USGA

Australia will field six representatives in next week’s US Women’s Amateur Championship at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee, all seeking to become the first Australian since Gabi Ruffels’ win in 2019 and just the second Australian in the history of the event to win golf’s greatest female amateur championship.

Victoria’s Jazy Roberts heads the group in the world women’s amateur ranking, followed by Raegen Denton, Ella Scaysbrook, Rachel Lee, Amy Hodgkins, and the amazing Sue Wooster, now 64, who has been a four-time runner-up at the US Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.

The Pete Dye-designed Honors Course has previously held several USGA events, but this is the first time it will hold either a US Men’s or Women’s Amateur championship

Roberts and Denton earn their place in the field courtesy of their standing inside the top 50 of the world amateur rankings, Scaysbrook as a result of her fine semi final finish in last year’s championship, Rachel Lee due to her qualifying via the demanding qualifying process, Hodgkins for her win in the recent Colorado Women’s Amateur and Wooster for her runner-up finish in the US Senior Women’s in 2025.

Scaysbrook will be chasing atonement for her agonising semifinal loss against eventual championship winner Megha Ganne at Bandon Dunes last year, when, after being 4 up with seven holes to play, she lost at the first extra hole.

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Cassie Porter best of Australasians as Thitikul leads AIG Open


Cassie Porter gets her opening round underway – image Richard Heathcote R&A via Getty Images

Women’s golf’s number two and three players, Jeeno Thitikul and Haeran Ryu are leading and tied for second, respectively, after the opening day of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Thitikul ahead by two over Ryu with Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki sharing second place with Ryu.

23 year old, Thitikul, who, despite spending some time in the number one position on the Rolex World Rankings has yet to win a major title and in eight previous starts in this event has recorded only one top ten, took advantage of the slightly easier afternoon conditions on day one to move ahead of Ryu who has won the last two major championships, the Women’s KPMG PGA and the Amundi Evian Championship.

Kuwaki has yet to win on the LPGA Tour, but she is a prolific winner on the Japan Ladies Tour and is playing in just her second AIG Women’s Open, having missed the cut on debut last year.

Thitikul has spent a total of 40 weeks as the world number one and now sits behind only Nelly Korda at the top of the women’s game.

Conditions on day one at Royal Lytham & St Annes were breezy all day, but the wind strength eased in the mid-afternoon as can often be the case on British seaside courses, but her round was nonetheless impressive.

Eleven Australasians teed it up on day one, and it would be Queensland’s Cassie Porter who was the only one to break par, her round of 1 under 70 having her in a share of 17th place after birdies at her opening two holes set up a solid start to the event, her second appearance at the AIG Open.

23-year-old Porter is now into her second season on the LPGA Tour and has recorded three top tens this season with a best of 5th (twice).

“It was good, she said after her round. “I think I had zero expectations at the start of the day, because last year’s British was a bit of a tough one for me especially,” said Porter.

“But, yeah, just went out and had fun. Just thought, you know, what’s the worst that can happen. Yeah, ended up having a good day which I’m stoked about.”

When asked to describe her journey in professional golf, Porter added: “Yeah, it’s been quite the journey actually. I feel like I learn something new every day, but more just I think I just learn something new about myself every week, which is nice, and you can carry that on over.

“It just honestly just shows all your true colors out here. Shows obviously the highs, lows. It really tests you. It’s fun, the challenge of that, too, and just finding a way to get through it.

“I think that’s my biggest thing I’ve done over the last year or so.”

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and Australians Hannah Green and Robyn Choi are at even par after their opening rounds of 71 and tied for 26th place.

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Australasian chances under question for AIG Women’s Open


Justice Bosio – one of two AIG Open debutantes amongst the 11 Australasians in the field – image LET

The final major of the year for world golf, the AIG Women’s Open, is played this week at Royal Lytham & St Annes in the northwest of England, where eleven Australasians take on one of Great Britain’s finest links courses.

In World Ranking order, Hannah Green, Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, Grace Kim, Karis Davidson, Cassie Porter, Stephanie Kyriacou, Robyn Choi, Kelsey Bennett, Amelia Garvey and Justice Bosio all get their chance at claiming a piece of the US$10 million prize fund.

Australasians have won this event on five occasions, Karrie Webb successful in three of those wins while Corine Dibnah and Karen Lunn won in the early 1990s long before the event became an LPGA Tour or major championship.

New Zealander Lydia Ko won at the Home of Golf (St Andrews) in 2024 and is playing her 15th AIG Women’s Open, although her win two years ago was one of only two top tens in those 14 previous starts.

Queensland Bosio was the last of the group into the field, having gained her right to play in her first major championship via the  Final Qualifying on Monday, where she finished third of the 13 who played their way into the field at the nearby St Annes Links

“I came out yesterday and played a practice round, and it was very windy, so I think that helped today,” said Bosio. “It’s my first links golf since The Women’s Amateur at Prince’s in 2023. Where I struggle sometimes on links courses is in creativity, but I visualised all my shots pretty well today.

“It’s really exciting to qualify for my first major. It’s my rookie season on the Ladies’ European Tour and I’ve just come back from three weeks off at home. Previously, I had some good form with a tied-second at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open and tied-fifth at the Dutch Ladies Open. I had confidence in my game.”

Hannah Green is the leading world-ranked Australasian in the field, but in nine previous attempts in AIG Opens and, in the main on traditional links courses, she has a best of 16th and has actually missed her last three cuts in the event. The West Australian has also lost the great form she was in earlier in the year.

Lydia Ko did not play in Scotland last week, but her most recent form has been encouraging, having recorded two top tens in her last four starts this season.

Minjee Lee, on the other hand, appears to have lost her way in recent starts. In her last nine starts this season, she has not recorded a better finish than 28th, and in her last three starts she has missed two cuts and withdrew from last week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.

Karis Davidson has been the interesting story amongst the Australians this year, having made the cut in all four of her major championship starts, and although she missed the cut last week, her performance will be of interest.

The AIG Women’s Open debutantes amongst the 11 Australasians are Queensland’s Bosio and Robyn Choi, all others having played at least one AIG Open.


Royal Lytham & St Annes – image R&A

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Percy shares second behind Kelly at Senior Open Championship


Jerry Kelly claims his 14th PGA Tour Champions title – image getty Images 

Cameron Percy was unable to fully capitalise on his great week at the ISPSA Handa Senior Open Championship with a breakthrough PGA Tour Champions win, but, by sharing second place with Matt Gogel and Darren Fichardt behind the winner, Jerry Kelly, he has recorded his third runner-up finish and added another US$198,000 to his already substantial earnings in his career since turning 50.

The 52-year-old Victorian began the final day in a share of the lead with the eventual winner Kelly, but despite the significantly better conditions on day four, he dropped two shots early and fell four behind the lead by the turn.

The margin was reduced to three when Percy birdied the 10th, but Kelly would play mistake-free golf on the way home, and when he added a birdie at the last he had won by two.

Percy played the back nine in 34 to gain a share of second with Gogel and Fichardt, who had both produced impressive final rounds of 63 and 66 respectively.

Percy’s runner-up finish follows his last start 5th place at the Kaulig Championship, and surely that first win is now just a matter ot time.

Percy improves 6 places to 15th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings behind Steve Alker in 8th place and Scott Hend 11th with earnings in 2026 of US$728,000.

Alker was the next best of the Australasians in 14th place this week.

For 59-year-old Kelly, it was his 14th victory on the PGA Tour Champions, and he now boasts career earnings there of close to US$16 million.

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Percy keeps Senior Open hopes alive with powerful finish at Gleneagles


Cameron Percy (right) and Jerry Kelly shake hands as they look ahead to another battle tomorrow – image Getty Images 

52-year-old Victorian, Cameron Percy, kept his hopes of a first PGA Tour Champions victory alive with a powerful finish to round three of the ISPS Handa Senior Open at the King’s Course at the Gleneagles Resort in the highlands of Perthshire in Scotland.

Like so many others, Percy was struggling on a brutal windy day after having had the 36-hole lead and was 4 over for the day through 14 holes of today’s round and had fallen two behind American Jerry Kelly, but staged a remarkable recovery to regain at least a share of the lead with American Jerry Kelly heading into tomorrow’s final round.

A birdie at the 16th was followed by an eagle at the last and the pair were tied at 8 under and three clear of the field.

Three shots ahead as the day began, Percy battled the blustery winds and made the turn at 2 over but was still three ahead of Kelly heading into the closing nine.

Kelly would, however, birdie three of his first four holes on the way home and took the lead as Percy dropped another shot to be two behind with four to play. Then came the birdie at the 16th, and although Kelly would birdie the last, Percy’s eagle would mean the pair would tee it up together once again in tomorrow’s final round.

Kelly owns 13 PGA Tour Champions titles while, for Percy, his first win has yet to come. Perhaps tomorrow could be the day.

Steve Allan at 1 under is in a share of 8th place while Steve Alker is the next best of the Australasians at 1 over and in a share of  18th.

“Very happy with the end,” said Percy. “Struggled all day. I couldn’t hit it. I couldn’t chip it. I couldn’t putt it. Misjudging wind and pretty much did everything wrong. So to finish birdie, par, eagles, was very nice. So I’m not out of it anymore. So that’s good.

“I was trying – normally into the wind, I could pinch it to get it to go through the wind, and I can’t do it this week. I had to take three extra clubs instead of two, and at least I got them on the green, which was nice. Took me a while to work that out, and then I misjudged the wind on the back nine, 12 and 13. 12th, I thought I hit a good drive and had to chip it out, basically.

“Winning the British Open, normal British Open would be incredible. But at my age and with these guys I’m playing with, to win a Senior British Open here would be pretty cool.”

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Cooper Moore out of US Junior but not without a fight

Cooper Moore during today’s matches – image USGA

New Zealand’s Cooper Moore added to what has been a stunning week for New Zealand golf, making it to the semi-finals of the US Junior Championship in Pennsylvania before being beaten in a very tight encounter against American Noah Maclauhlan.

Earlier in the day, Moore had defeated his fellow New Zealander Ryan Xie in the quarter-final, leading all the way after a birdie at the first hole before holding off a determined Xie to win 2&1.

In the afternoon semi-final, Moore was always behind in his match against Virginian Maclauhlan, who, with five birdies in his first eight holes, led 3 up at the turn. Then came the fightback by the Christchurch golfer.

Moore birdied the 10th and 11th holes to trail by just one through 11 holes, but a birdie at the par 3 14th by Maclauhlan would prove pivotal as it left him 2 up with four to play. Although Moore reduced the margin to just one with two to play when Maclauchlan found the hazard at the 16th, he arrived at the 18th after both had birdied the 17th, needing to win the hole to take things to extra time.

Neither player gave themselves great birdie opportunities at the last and when Maclauchlan holed out from 4 feet for par, his one-up advantage had been maintained, and a place in the finals was his.

It had, however, been a close call for the winner and he knew it.

“Cooper gave a heck of a fight,” said Maclauchlan, who made nine birdies, four pars, four bogeys and a double bogey against Moore. “Gave me a lot of stress on the back nine. He kept on pouring [in] birdies, so we weren’t going to win holes unless the other one wasn’t making birdies.

Moore was understandably disappointed not to have made the final but pleased with the manner in which he played. “When I’ve come over this side (US)  before, I’ve struggled with my game and never really competed, so to compete over here is cool, said the 18-year-old. “Yeah, it’s quite nice.”

Moore will play in the International Junior Presidents Cup side later this year.

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Cooper Moore and Ryan Xie shake hands after their quarter-final on Friday morning, won by Moore image USGA

 

 

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Grace Kim best of Australasians in Scotland


Grace Kim – in action today – image Ladies European Tour

It has not been a good week thus far for the numerically strong (11) Australasian contingent at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, Grace Kim in a share of 11th place doing best at the halfway stage, but 11 shots from the leader Jenny Shin of Korea.

Shin, though, leads by five after brilliant rounds of 66 and 67 in blustery conditions over the Dundonald Links Course at Gailes on the west coast of Scotland, Germany’s Esther Henseleit her nearest chaser at this stage.

After an opening round of 74, Kim was out in a remarkable 32, and although the strong winds slowed her progress on the closing nine, she put together an extremely good round in the conditions.

New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey and Queensland’s Robyn Choi are at 5 over and tied for 49th while Hannah Green was the only other of the Australasians to make the weekend when she finished on the cut line at 6 over par.

The surprise of the event so far has been Minjee Lee, who withdrew after an opening round of 85. It continues a horror run for the 30-year-old, who has not finished better than  28th in her last eight starts. No reason at this stage for the withdrawal.

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