[2026 AIG Women's Open] Shiho Kuwaki's Playoff Major Title, Nelly Korda T4 & Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu Repeat T6

The defining story of the championship surrounding Sunday's electrifying duel between Kuwaki and Henseleit. With Henseleit playing inspired golf in pursuit of a guaranteed spot on the European Solheim Cup Team, the two standouts traded blows across Lytham's penal bunkers before heading to extra holes. Under intense playoff pressure, Kuwaki executed clinical approach shots and rolled in the clutch putt needed to seize the championship trophy, becoming the newest major winner in LPGA history. While Henseleit settled for solo runner-up honors, her relentless ball-striking proved vital in boosting her Solheim Cup standing.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda demonstrated her trademark resilience after sitting at T14 following a solid Friday 68. Korda pushed the tempo over the weekend, capitalizing on key birdie opportunities to secure a tie for fourth place (T4) and finish her 2026 major campaign on a high note. The tournament's earlier rounds were equally thrilling: America's Yealimi Noh surged out of the gate to hold an impressive 3-shot lead in the opening round, while South Korea's Haeran Ryu took over the 36-hole lead by one stroke before remaining embedded in a crowded, high-powered chasing pack throughout the weekend.

The 50th edition of the AIG Women's Open showcased the competitive spirit of Taiwan's female golf stars across the major stage. Headlining the Taiwanese contingent was standout Wei-Ling Hsu, who delivered one of the most celebrated performances of her career at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Demonstrating supreme mastery over traditional links course strategy, Hsu carded rounds of 71, 74, 69, and 69 for a 72-hole aggregate of 1-under-par 283. She surged up the leaderboard with back-to-back 69s (-3) and contended for the title deep into Sunday afternoon before encountering trouble on the 72nd hole. Finishing in a tie for 6th place (T6), Hsu earned a prestigious $247,127 payout and substantial CME Globe points. Remarkably, this marked Hsu’s second consecutive year finishing T6 at the AIG Women’s Open, cementing her elite status as one of the tour's premier links players. Meanwhile, fellow LPGA regulars Pei-Yun Chien and Ssu-Chia Cheng battled Lytham's severe coastal winds and deep pot bunkers during the opening 36 holes, but both narrowly missed the weekend cut (+4) despite showing resilience in challenging conditions. Rising star Chia-Yen Wu, who competed at the U.S. Women's Open earlier this season, was among the notable absentees from the championship field this week. Collectively, the Taiwanese presence remained a compelling storyline, with Hsu's back-to-back top-10 major finishes bringing immense pride to Taiwanese golf fans worldwide.

The 2026 AIG Women’s Open distributed record-level prize money and pivotal CME Globe points that dramatically reshaped the season standings. Champion Shiho Kuwaki banked the championship top prize and a massive points windfall that guarantees her postseason spot, while runner-up Esther Henseleit solidified both her earnings and her Solheim Cup qualification. Rolex Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda’s T4 finish further entrenched her position atop the season-long CME Globe race. Taiwan’s Wei-Ling Hsu earned a notable $247,127 share for her second straight T6 major finish, substantially elevating her CME standing. With the final women’s major of 2026 in the books, the stars of the LPGA Tour now carry their Lytham momentum into the prestigious autumn Asian swing and the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.