August 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nKuwaki sealed victory on the second playoff hole after Henseleit missed her par attempt, tapping in for bogey, to become the second Japanese champion of the tournament in succession, after Miyu Yamashita.<\/p>\n
She said: “”I just can’t believe it. To be on a stage like this is an honour and every hole I was just focused on shot by shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I just tried to enjoy it as much as I could. Recently, we had an earthquake in Japan, and I’d like to wish people a speedy recovery and best wishes.”<\/p>\n
After beginning \u200cthe day among \u200cthe chasing pack, \u2060Kuwaki steadily climbed into contention as Noh began to feel \u200bthe pressure. She moved into a share of the lead with a birdie at the 13th and stayed patient over the closing stretch before posting the clubhouse target at five under.<\/p>\n
Noh looked set to control the final round but a pair of bogeys at the seventh and eighth cut \u2060her advantage. She briefly recovered, regaining a share \u200cof \u200bthe lead with a birdie at the par-four 13th, before another dropped shot at the 14th \u200bleft her \u200ctrailing Kuwaki by one.<\/p>\n
Henseleit also produced a strong back-nine charge. After slipping back with bogeys \u200bat the eighth and ninth, she birdied the 11th, 12th and 15th to draw level with Kuwaki, only to drop a shot at the 16th. The German refused \u200bto \u200brelent, however, rolling in a crucial \u200bbirdie putt at the last to force the \u200cplayoff.<\/p>\n
World No.1 Nelly Korda briefly held the clubhouse lead after a closing three-under 68 but it was not enough to challenge for the title, leaving her tied for fourth on two under with world No.2 Jeeno Thitikul.<\/p>\n
South Korea’s Haeran Ryu saw her bid for a \u200bthird consecutive major fade with bogeys at the 17th and 18th, finishing tied for sixth \u200bon one under alongside \u2060home hopes Lottie Woad and Charley Hull.\u00a0<\/p>\n