Shiho Kuwaki Emerges as New 'Japanese Cinderella' With Vibrant Style and Colorful Balls

Another "surprise Japanese star" has been born at the AIG Women's Open, a women's golf major.

The champion of this year's AIG Women's Open, which concluded on the 2nd (local time) at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Links in Lancashire, England, was 2003-born Japanese golfer Shiho Kuwaki.

Kuwaki secured the victory by shooting one-under-par in the final fourth round, tying with Esther Henseleit of Germany, and ultimately winning the playoff.

Following Miyu Yamashita last year, Japanese players have now claimed the championship trophy at the AIG Women's Open for two consecutive years.

Prior to this tournament, Kuwaki was ranked 46th in the world. She turned professional in 2021 and has been competing on the Japan LPGA (JLPGA) Tour.

Starting with her maiden victory at the Shiseido Ladies Open in June 2024, she has accumulated a total of five wins.

With two wins this season, she currently leads the JLPGA Tour's annual points ranking.

Having originally aimed to challenge the U.S. stage through the qualifying series at the end of this year, Kuwaki has now earned the right to jump straight to the LPGA Tour without going through Q-series thanks to this victory.

Following her win, Kuwaki expressed her overwhelming emotions, saying, "Just being able to stand on a stage like this is an honor. I tried to focus on every single hole and shot while enjoying the game as much as possible, and it truly feels unbelievable."

She added, "It is truly amazing to win again as a Japanese player following Yamashita last year. I will do my best to shine in the golf world as a member of Team Japan." She also added, "An earthquake recently struck Kumamoto, and I pray for a speedy recovery."

Kuwaki's victory echoes that of Hinako Shibuno in 2019.

Shibuno also wrote a Cinderella story by securing a "surprise win" at the AIG Women's Open in 2019 while competing on the JLPGA Tour.

Notably, Shibuno achieved the remarkable feat of winning on her very first appearance at an overseas tournament during that AIG Women's Open.

Shibuno has since continued to play primarily on the Japanese circuit before moving on to the LPGA Tour starting from the 2022 season.

Coincidentally, Kuwaki, who hails from Okayama, the same hometown as Shibuno, and has long admired her, triumphed at the same tournament seven years later.

Much like Shibuno, who was dubbed the "Smiling Cinderella" for her bright and cheerful smiles during matches, Kuwaki drew attention by maintaining a bright expression and boldly enjoying herself despite the fierce competition for the title down the final stretch.

During the champion's press conference, speaking about her relationship with Shibuno, Kuwaki shared, "She has supported me a lot since my high school days. Whenever we see each other overseas or at tournaments, she always talks to me, and she even sent me a message before today's match wishing me luck. It is truly wonderful and I am grateful that we can be like sisters."

Kuwaki, who also caught the eye with her flashy outfits, nail art, and colored golf balls, remarked that fashion is "an element that gives me confidence and happiness, and it seems to translate into my game." Regarding her nails, she introduced, "I just do them according to my mood, and I like styling both hands differently."

As for her colored balls, she explained, "I have used yellow balls almost exclusively since I started playing golf. It makes it easier to spot and check the ball on the course."

Showing off her star quality by fearlessly attacking the pins on the demanding links course, she stated, "I am not a long hitter, but I believe my accuracy gives me a competitive edge, and I am very proud of that."

Finishing this season ranked 3rd in scoring average on the Japanese Tour (70.73 strokes), Kuwaki sits 20th in average driving distance (247.46 yards), 7th in fairway accuracy (75.1%), and 12th in greens in regulation (69.8%).

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.