Shiho Kuwaki

Shiho Kuwaki
Personal information
Born (2003-01-29) 29 January 2003
Okayama, Japan
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Sporting nationality Japan
Career
CollegeKurashiki University of Science and the Arts
Turned professional2021
Current tourLPGA of Japan Tour
Professional wins7
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour1
Ladies European Tour1
LPGA of Japan Tour5
Other1
Best results in LPGA major championships
Chevron ChampionshipDNP
Women's PGA C'shipT24: 2026
U.S. Women's OpenT14: 2026
Women's British OpenWon: 2026
Evian ChampionshipT41: 2026

Shiho Kuwaki (Japanese: 桑木 志帆, born 29 January 2003) is a Japanese professional golfer. Kuwaki turned professional in 2021, joining the LPGA of Japan Tour. In 2024, she won the Japan LPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup. On 2 August 2026, she won the Women's British Open to claim her first major title following a playoff with Germany's Esther Henseleit.[1] Kuwaki is noted in the Japanese press for her distinctive fashion on tour.

Early life and amateur career

Kuwaki was born on 29 January 2003 in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture.[2] Kuwaki began playing golf at age four.[3] During junior high school, she won the China Women's Amateur Golf Championship. In high school, she won The One Junior Golf Tournament.[3] Kuwaki is a student at Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts.[4]

Professional career

Kuwaki turned professional in 2021. That year, she won the JLPTGA Rookies Championship Kaga Electronics Cup.[3]

In 2023, Kuwaki came in second at the Shiseido Ladies Open after losing a playoff against Kokona Sakurai.[2] Kuwaki became noticeable on tour for her distinctive sportswear by sponsor Loudmouth Golf.[5][6][7]

In 2024, Kuwaki enjoyed her best season on the LPGA of Japan Tour, with three tournament wins.[8] In June, she won the Shiseido Ladies Open and in August she won the Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament. In November, she won the Japan LPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup, her first major event.[9][10] During the event, she wore distinctive pants patterned with red lobsters, catching the attention of the Japanese press.[11][12] After winning the tournament, the LPGA of Japan Tour had her handprints cast in bronze in a shopping center in Nishi-Tachi, Miyazaki City.[13] JA Group Okayama, based in her hometown gifted the player 120kg of Okayama-produced rice and 2kg of Okayama Wagyu beef in honor of her three wins.[4]

In 2024, she qualified for the AIG Women's Open, but was unable to play due to poor health.[5] Kuwaki finished the 2024 LPGA of Japan Tour season in 6th place.[14]

In January 2025, Kuwaki was selected as a designated training player by the Japanese Olympic team.[15] In February, Kuwaki received the Okayama Sports Award, awarded by her hometown for her achievement in sport.[16]

That year, Kuwaki made her LPGA Tour debut, playing the U.S. Women's Open, her first major overseas tournament.[17] She made the cut,[18] but later described the tournament as the "hardest one so far".[19] In August, she won the AIG Women's Open to claim her first major title following a playoff with Germany's Esther Henseleit.[1]

Professional wins (7)

LPGA Tour wins (1)

Legend
Major championships (1)
Other LPGA Tour (0)
No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 2 Aug 2026 AIG Women's Open[1] 66-70-73-70=279 −5 Playoff Germany Esther Henseleit

1 Co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour.

LPGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 2026 AIG Women's Open Germany Esther Henseleit Won with par on second extra hole

LPGA of Japan Tour wins (5)

No. Date Tournament Winning score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 30 Jun 2024 Shiseido Ladies Open 65-71-69=205 −11 2 strokes Japan Kotone Hori
2 25 Aug 2024 Nitori Ladies 67-70-69-70=276 −12 1 stroke South Korea Bae Seon-woo
Japan Karen Tsuruoka
3 24 Nov 2024 Japan LPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup 66-69-69-72=276 −12 1 stroke Japan Sakura Koiwai
4 17 May 2026 Sky RKB Ladies Classic 68-66-67=201 −15 1 stroke Taiwan Wu Chia-yen
5 14 Jun 2026 Ai Miyazato Suntory Ladies Open Golf Tournament 64-65-70-70=269 −19 1 stroke Japan Kana Nagai

Tournaments in bold denotes major tournaments in LPGA of Japan Tour.

Other wins (1)

  • 2021 JLPTGA Rookies Championship Kaga Electronics Cup

Majors championships

Wins (1)

YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
2026AIG Women's Open3 shot deficit−5 (66-70-73-70=279)PlayoffGermany Esther Henseleit

Results timeline

Tournament20252026
Chevron Championship
U.S. Women's Open T56 T14
Women's PGA Championship CUT T24
The Evian Championship T41
Women's British Open CUT 1
  Win
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
T = tied

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Chevron Championship00000000
U.S. Women's Open00000122
Women's PGA Championship00000121
The Evian Championship00000011
Women's British Open10011121
Totals10011375
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (2026 U.S. Open – 2026 British Open, current)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (current)

References

  1. 1 2 "Shiho Kuwaki wins Women's British Open on second playoff hole". ESPN. Associated Press. 2 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Shiho Kuwaki". JLPGA. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "桑木志帆 プロフィール". ゴルフダイジェスト・オンライン (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 "女子ゴルフツアーで今季3勝 桑木志帆選手（岡山市出身）にJAグループ岡山が米や牛肉など贈呈 | KSBニュース | KSB瀬戸内海放送". KSB (in Japanese). 12 December 2024. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  5. 1 2 "ブレークを経て女王候補へ 桑木志帆の描くゴールと海外挑戦／開幕前インタビュー". GDOニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  6. ↑ 日刊スポーツ. "【写真特集】小林夢果ミニスカショット 桑木志帆カラフルパンツでショット／女子ゴルフ第１日２ - ゴルフ : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "世界でもっとも有名な黒猫「FELIX」のウェアを着た桑木志帆 「不屈の精神を持ってがんばります」と意欲満々！". ゴルフ総合サイト ALBA Net (in Japanese). 4 April 2025. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "女子ゴルフ桑木志帆選手を祝福 今季３勝、岡山で関係者ら：山陽新聞デジタル｜さんデジ". 山陽新聞デジタル｜さんデジ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "「最高です！」 桑木志帆が"完全優勝"でメジャー初V 1打差2位に小祝さくら". GDOニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "桑木志帆が完全V、国内メジャー初制覇 リコー杯ゴルフ". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 24 November 2024. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "イーグル新記録チャンスで貫いた冷静 桑木志帆はド派手ロブスター柄に"後悔"も？". GDOニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "首位・桑木志帆－ロブスターでVへ前進". スポーツナビ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "桑木志帆が手形モニュメント除幕式に出席｜JLPGA｜日本女子プロゴルフ協会". 一般社団法人日本女子プロゴルフ協会 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "ブレークを経て女王候補へ 桑木志帆の描くゴールと海外挑戦／開幕前インタビュー". GDOニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "五輪強化指定選手 桑木志帆、平田憲聖らを新たに選出". ゴルフネットワーク (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  16. ↑ 日本放送協会. "岡山スポーツ賞表彰式 女子ゴルフ桑木選手らに記念の盾｜NHK 岡山県のニュース". NHK NEWS WEB. Archived from the original on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  17. ↑ ""全米デビュー"に胸躍る初出場組 桑木志帆はスマホ片手にコース満喫中「すごく楽しいです」（ゴルフ総合サイト ALBA Net）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 29 May 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "桑木志帆、初の海外メジャー全米女子オープン予選通過！悔しさを胸に再挑戦へ". スポーツブル (スポブル) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "桑木志帆が「全米女子オープン」を振り返り 「今までで1番難しかった」セッティングに苦戦を強いられたが「絶対来年もここに帰ってくる」". ゴルフ総合サイト ALBA Net (in Japanese). 11 June 2025. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
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