[Congratulations! British Open Victory] Shiho Kuwaki: The “Steady Growth” Behind Her Remarkable Achievement and Her “Future Ambitions”

The press conference held in Tokyo on August 4—immediately after her victory at an international major—was incredibly upbeat, and the venue was filled with laughter time and time again.

“On the night I won, I raised a toast with beer and highballs. That first sip was really delicious. It was a bit of a shame that it was a little lukewarm, though (laughs).”

She met with her parents over a meal after her victory, but she said she doesn’t recall exchanging any words of congratulations with them.

“My family might not have said anything at all. Oh, wait—they did ask me, ‘Can I have some fried rice?’ (As for my drinking mishaps) I can’t talk about that. I can’t say anything in front of such a big crowd (laughs).”

Even after reaching the pinnacle of the world, he doesn’t try to make himself seem bigger than he is. His carefree smile and lively, quick-witted responses conveyed Kuwaki’s unpretentious personality—

The Mentor Behind the Historic Achievement

On August 2, she claimed her first international major title at the AIG Women’s Open in the UK.She became the seventh Japanese player to achieve this feat, following Hisako Higuchi (80), Hinako Shibuno (27), Yuka Sasaki (25), Ayaka Furue (26), Mao Saigo (24), and Miu Yamashita (25).Since Sasaki has won the tournament twice, this marks Japan’s eighth overall victory. At the Women’s British Open—since it was elevated to major status—she became the third Japanese winner, following Shibuno in ’19 and Yamashita in ’25.

“It’s starting to sink in little by little now. I’m a bit surprised that my Instagram followers have increased by about 10,000,” she said.

That said, this victory at the Women’s British Open did not come out of the blue. Leading up to it, she had racked up two wins on the domestic tour this season.

In 2024, she recorded three wins for the year and also claimed the final event, the “JLPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup.” However, last season—when she was expected to take another leap forward—she failed to secure a single victory. The turning point came thanks to Coach Saori Iwamoto (55), who has been coaching her since junior high school.

“I think I was getting impatient last season. I was too fixated on results and wasn’t paying attention to the quality of my play. Since I was only focusing on the negative aspects, I couldn’t recognize my own strengths. But my coach praised me so much, and realizing my strengths may have given me the confidence I needed,” she said.

For example, even during a period when she was struggling with her putting, her coach praised her for a single shot she made without losing her nerve. She learned not to judge herself solely by results, but to focus on the quality of her play and even small improvements.

That shift was reflected in her results at the “Sky RKB Ladies Classic” in May. She shot a “65” on the final day to finish at 15-under par and claim her first victory since ’24. This win—her first in about a year and a half—helped her regain the confidence she had nearly lost.

At the subsequent major, the U.S. Women’s Open, she tied for 14th place. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “I was able to compete at a higher level than I expected,” which gave her the confidence that she could compete on the world stage. Furthermore, at the “Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies” in June, she didn’t panic even after her three-stroke lead was erased on the final day.

“I knew it was a tough situation, but since I was keeping my mistakes to a minimum, I believed that would carry over into the back nine,”

Kuwaki reflected after the match. In the past, she would have been rattled by such a situation, but by staying focused on her game, she secured her second victory of the season with a total score of 19 under par. Along with the experience of winning by design, she also earned her spot in the British Women’s Open on her own merits.

He “enjoyed” the wind he used to struggle with

At last year’s British Open, he was unable to cope with the strong winds and failed to make the cut. He said his swing broke down in crosswinds and headwinds, even disrupting the rhythm of his shots. To turn that frustration into motivation, this season he has practiced not only maintaining a steady axis during his swing but also repeatedly working on shots that keep the ball low and follow the intended line.

At this year’s British Women’s Open, she improved her score by sinking long putts on the first and second days. On a course with numerous bunkers surrounding the fairways, she found the greens from the fairway only twice over the four days. The accuracy of her driver shots—her signature strength—proved to be a major asset.After the third round, she was in second place, three strokes behind the leader. On the final day, she played while recalling the mental approach she took when she won the Suntory Ladies Open.

“I really enjoyed every round over the four days. Rather than feeling nervous, I was able to stick to my resolve to enjoy myself right until the very end.”

In the past, she would get nervous even on short putts and would shed tears when she missed the cut at overseas majors. This time, however, she said she “enjoyed” the wind—something she had previously struggled with. The shots she had practiced flew exactly where she aimed, and that led to results. That accumulation of success transformed the pressure into enjoyment.

However, Kuwaki herself doesn’t think she’s become a different person mentally. When asked, “Do you think you won’t cry anymore?”

“No, that’s not true—I think I’d still cry if I missed the cut or something (laughs),”

she replied instantly. Laughter filled the press conference room once again. She hasn’t lost her emotions. Rather, she’s learned to focus on her next shot even while harboring frustration and anxiety.

The playoff epitomized this shift. The moment he saw his tee shot land in the bushes, he said he thought, “Oh, it’s over.” But when his caddie told him, “If you get it close on your third shot, you’ll put pressure on your opponent. If you give up, it’s over,” he snapped back to reality.

Without rushing the shot, he found his way back to the fairway and hit his third shot—about 80 yards—right next to the pin. “Rather than just getting it close, I hit it with the mindset of sinking it.” Even in the clutch, that shot—played at his usual tempo—led him to the world No. 1 ranking.

Nails and Vibrant Outfits Also Express “Your Own Style”

It wasn’t just her play that drew attention at the British Open. Her colorful outfits and vibrant nail polish also caught the eye of the local gallery.

According to Kuwaki, spectators commented, “Those are nice pants,” and both spectators and security guards complimented her nails, saying, “That’s a nice color.” South Korean media even dubbed her the “fashion king who broke through the strict golf course culture.” When I mentioned this to her, Kuwaki looked surprised for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“I don’t really feel like I’m being complimented, though (laughs). But I think it’s better to make an impact than not, so I’m happy.”

Her nails and attire aren’t just for the sake of standing out. For Kuwaki, approaching a match in a way that’s true to herself is one factor that helps boost her morale. With her upcoming challenge on the U.S. Tour next season in mind, her goal was clear.

“If I’m going to the U.S. Tour, I want people to remember my name, even if just a little, and I definitely want to stand out, so I think this outfit suits me well.”

Her next goal for this season is to become the Japan Women’s Tour’s season champion. With the 800 points she earned from winning the British Women’s Open, she now tops the year-end points standings. “I’ll be taking on the LPGA Tour starting next season,” she stated clearly.

Although she may not match international players in terms of driving distance, she hasn’t lost sight of her strengths , saying, “I want to play well by relying on the accuracy of my shots.” Her world ranking has risen to 16th—the third-highest among Japanese players—and she is now in a position where a spot in the Olympics two years from now is within reach.

Incidentally, she reportedly gave the ball and glove she used to clinch the victory to a junior golfer who was present at the event. She herself started playing golf at age four and had watched her senior compatriot from Okayama Prefecture, Hinako Shibuno, win the British Women’s Open on television.

“I’d be happy if seeing me play inspires more junior golfers to give it their all,”

When asked what kind of professional golfer she hopes to become in the future, she replied:

“I want to be someone that junior golfers look up to. I’ll keep working hard so I can continue to shine.”

She turned the frustration of last season’s lack of wins into an opportunity to focus on her strengths. She regained her confidence with two domestic victories and channeled the momentum gained from her performance at overseas majors into her victory at the British Women’s Open. Her nail art, her vibrant outfits, and her carefree smile are all “part of Shiho Kuwaki.”

How far will this 23-year-old, who won a major while staying true to herself, go—toward the season title, the LPGA Tour, and the Olympics? Expectations continue to soar.