Shiho Kuwaki won her first major title on Sunday, beating Esther Henseleit in a play-off at the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Kuwaki finished on five under par, level with Henseleit, who sank a 45-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to match her final-round score of 70 and force extra holes.
Both players made par on the first play-off hole. Henseleit missed a 10-foot putt that would have won the title outright, while Kuwaki had to pitch out of thick rough and scrambled a four to stay in the contest.
Marshal moment decides the title
On the second extra hole, Henseleit's tee shot struck a marshal and deflected into a bush, forcing her to pitch back into play and make bogey. Kuwaki found the green and two-putted to win the championship, the 50th edition of the AIG Women's Open and the last women's major of the year.
Kuwaki's victory made her the second successive winner from Japan and earned her the $1.5m first prize.
Contenders fall short
Overnight leader Yealimi Noh finished third, one stroke back, after a final-round 74. World number one Nelly Korda and world number two Jeeno Thitikul shared fourth place, a further shot behind.
Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, who were both chasing a home victory and a third consecutive British winner at Royal Lytham, shared sixth place on one under par, four strokes off the lead. Haeran Ryu, who had been chasing a third consecutive major title, also finished on one under alongside them.
Only 11 of the 68 players who made the cut finished the tournament under par.
The AIG Women's Open was the fifth and final major of the women's golf calendar for the year. Korda had already won the Chevron Championship and the US Women's Open, while Ryu won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship before adding the Amundi Evian Championship.