AIG Ladies’s Open – fourth spherical
-5 *S Kuwaki (Jap), E Henseleit (Ger); -4 Y Noh (US); -2 N Korda (US), J Thitikul (Tha)
Chosen others: -1 C Hull (Eng), L Woad, (Eng), H Ryu (Kor), R Takeda (Jap); E C Boutier (Fra), S Kouskova (Cze); +1 L Li (US), L Coughlin (US)
Shiho Kuwaki received the Ladies’s Open in dramatic style after a unprecedented play-off during which Esther Henseleit’s hopes have been hit by her ball taking an unlucky ricochet off a marshal.
The gripping finale at Royal Lytham & St Annes brimmed with drama, magic and misfortune – notably on the essential 18th gap.
Germany’s Henseleit initially pressured an extension to play by sinking a 45-foot birdie putt to attract degree at 5 below par with Japan’s Kuwaki, who sat nervously contained in the clubhouse watching on.
Nonetheless, after each made pars in distinctly totally different style on the primary sudden-death play-off gap, Henseleit was left in issue when her drive hit a course marshal and was redirected right into a gorse bush as they went down the 18th for a 3rd time.
When she was unable to save lots of her par, it was left for Kuwaki to make a brief putt for a 4 to safe the highest prize of £1.11m simply 12 months after failing to make the lower at Royal Porthcawl.
“I simply cannot consider it,” stated Kuwaki, whose earlier 5 wins as knowledgeable had all arrived on her dwelling tour.
“To be on a stage like that is an honour and each gap I used to be simply centered on shot by shot. I simply tried to take pleasure in it as a lot as I might.
“It is an incredible feeling to win once more as a Japanese participant. I hope as crew Japan we will proceed to gentle up the golf world.”
