2026 AIG Women's Open: Record Prize Money Goes to Shiho Kuwaki After Playoff Drama
Shiho Kuwaki wins the 2026 AIG Women's Open in a playoff. Here's an overview of all the prize money payouts from the $10 million purse.
The 50th edition of the AIG Women's Open at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in England has crowned a well-deserved champion: On August 3, 2026, Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki prevailed over Germany’s Esther Henseleit in a playoff to claim her first major title. The total prize money for the LPGA Tour event was $10 million—a new record for the tournament.
Kuwaki Wins in Playoff – $1.5 Million in Prize Money for the Japanese Golfer
Shiho Kuwaki started the tournament with a strong 66 (-5), followed by rounds of 70 (-1) and 73 (+2) in rounds two and three, before carding another 70 (-1) on the final day. With a total score of -5 (279 strokes), she tied for the lead with Henseleit and had to go into a playoff. On the second playoff hole, Kuwaki clinched the victory after Henseleit nearly lost her tee shot in the brush and carded a Bogey. For the 23-year-old, who competes on the LPGA Tour of Japan and had previously recorded five wins on her home tour, this was her first victory outside of Japan. She is the fourth Japanese player to win the AIG Women’s Open—following Ayako Okamoto (1984), Hinako Shibuno (2019), and Miyu Yamashita (2025).
Dramatic Finale: Henseleit Forces Playoff with Birdie on 18
Esther Henseleit provided one of the most emotional moments of the tournament: After a Bogey on the 16th hole, the 27-year-old German needed a Birdie on the 18th to force a playoff. Her long putt over the double-breaker actually dropped—the English crowd went wild. In the playoff on the 18th, both players initially carded Par. On the second extra hole, Kuwaki’s ball found the Fairway and the green in two, while Henseleit unfortunately hit the gorse and had to settle for a Bogey. For the German, however, second place—with $994,669 in prize money—still marks the best major result of her career. In addition, this performance automatically qualified her for the 2026 European Solheim Cup team.
Nelly Korda Caps Off Major Season with Rolex Annika Major Award
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who had previously won the Chevron Championship and the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open, finished the tournament tied for fourth place (-2) alongside Jeeno Thitikul, thereby securing the Rolex Annika Major Award for the best major season of the year—becoming only the second player to win this award twice. Korda received $502,367 in prize money for her fourth-place finish.
2026 AIG Women’s Open Prize Money: An Overview of All Payouts
The total prize money for the 2026 AIG Women’s Open was $10 million. The winner received $1.5 million—a new record for the tournament. Since the R&A took over the tournament in 2017, the total prize money has more than tripled. Players who missed the cut each received $4,250. Two amateurs (Paula Martin Sampedro and Yunseo Yang) made the cut but did not receive any prize money. The following overview lists all 68 players who made the cut.
| Place | Player | Score | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shiho Kuwaki | -5 | $1,500,000 |
| 2 | Esther Henseleit | -5 | $994,669 |
| 3 | Yealimi Noh | -4 | $720,803 |
| T4 | Jeeno Thitikul | -2 | $502,367 |
| T4 | Nelly Korda | -2 | $502,367 |
| T6 | Haeran Ryu | -1 | $266,642 |
| T6 | Lottie Woad | -1 | $266,642 |
| T6 | Charley Hull | -1 | $266,642 |
| T6 | Wei Ling Hsu | -1 | $266,642 |
| T6 | Shannon Tan | -1 | $266,642 |
| T6 | Rio Takeda | -1 | $266,642 |
| T12 | Minami Katsu | E | $171,436 |
| T12 | Celine Boutier | E | $171,436 |
| T12 | Yuka Saso | E | $171,436 |
| T12 | Sara Kouskova | E | $171,436 |
| T16 | Lucy Li | +1 | $136,491 |
| T16 | Jinhee Im | +1 | $136,491 |
| T16 | Lauren Coughlin | +1 | $136,491 |
| T16 | Hyojoo Kim | +1 | $136,491 |
| T20 | Chanettee Wannasaen | +2 | $118,469 |
| T20 | Lydia Ko | +2 | $118,469 |
| T20 | Soo Bin Joo | +2 | $118,469 |
| T23 | Ashleigh Buhai | +3 | $99,721 |
| T23 | Carla Tejedo Mulet | +3 | $99,721 |
| T23 | Mao Saigo | +3 | $99,721 |
| T23 | Pia Babnik | +3 | $99,721 |
| T23 | Amelia Garvey | +3 | $99,721 |
| T23 | Patty Tavatanakit | +3 | $99,721 |
| T29 | Chizzy Iwai | +4 | $77,057 |
| T29 | Sei Young Kim | +4 | $77,057 |
| T29 | Hannah Green | +4 | $77,057 |
| T29 | Brooke Henderson | +4 | $77,057 |
| T29 | Yuna Araki | +4 | $77,057 |
| T29 | Anna Nordqvist | +4 | $77,057 |
| T29 | Paula Martin Sampedro (a) | +4 | $0 (Amateur) |
| T36 | Jing Yan | +5 | $59,055 |
| T36 | Alexandra Forsterling | +5 | $59,055 |
| T36 | Mimi Rhodes | +5 | $59,055 |
| T36 | Maja Stark | +5 | $59,055 |
| T36 | Arpichaya Yubol | +5 | $59,055 |
| T41 | Yana Wilson | +6 | $49,664 |
| T41 | Cara Gainer | +6 | $49,664 |
| T41 | Auston Kim | +6 | $49,664 |
| T44 | Dewi Weber | +7 | $43,655 |
| T44 | Nastasia Nadaud | +7 | $43,655 |
| T44 | Nasa Hataoka | +7 | $43,655 |
| T47 | Robyn Choi | +8 | $36,556 |
| T47 | Amy Yang | +8 | $36,556 |
| T47 | Jenny Shin | +8 | $36,556 |
| T47 | Manon De Roey | +8 | $36,556 |
| T47 | Rose Zhang | +8 | $36,556 |
| T47 | Jinyoung Ko | +8 | $36,556 |
| T53 | Ayaka Furue | +9 | $29,728 |
| T53 | Ariya Jutanugarn | +9 | $29,728 |
| T53 | Alice Hewson | +9 | $29,728 |
| T53 | Julia Lopez Ramirez | +9 | $29,728 |
| T53 | Yunseo Yang (a) | +9 | $0 (Amateur) |
| T58 | Annabell Fuller | +10 | $25,636 |
| T58 | Kajsa Arwefjall | +10 | $25,636 |
| T58 | Pauline Roussin-Bouchard | +10 | $25,636 |
| T61 | Lindy Duncan | +11 | $23,451 |
| T61 | Aki Iwai | +11 | $23,451 |
| T61 | Aunchisa Utama | +11 | $23,451 |
| 64 | Amanda Doherty | +12 | $22,362 |
| T65 | Minji Kang | +13 | $15,775 |
| T65 | Alison Lee | +13 | $15,775 |
| T65 | Mi Hyang Lee | +13 | $15,775 |
| 68 | Casandra Alexander | +14 | $4,250 |
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Release date
03 Aug 2026
photos
Shiho Kuwaki wins the AIG Women's Open and a record prize of $1.5 million. (Photo: Imago / Steve Flynn)
