Hinako Shibuno

Hinako Shibuno provided a fairytale finish to the 2019 AIG Women’s Open by claiming her maiden major title in her first tournament outside her native Japan.

Hinako closed with a four-under-par 68 at Woburn, including five birdies in the final nine holes, for an 18-under total, one clear of American Lizette Salas. She became the second Japanese player to win a women's major championship after Hisako Higuchi, who won the 1977 LPGA Championship.

Nicknamed the “Smiling Cinderella”, Shibuno finished third in the AIG Women’s Open in 2022, one shot behind winner Ashleigh Buhai and In Gee Chun.

Hinako has enjoyed something of a renaissance in majors recently, finishing second (2024) and T7 (2025) in the last two US Women's Opens and T7 in the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.