SHIHO KUWAKI LOSES $643,000 IN UK TAX AFTER AIG WOMEN'S OPEN WIN

Shiho Kuwaki won the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club on Sunday in a playoff. The Japanese golfer received the winner's prize of $1.5 million (£1,111,663). However, according to calculations based on UK tax regulations, HMRC deducted $643,052 from her earnings, leaving her with $856,948 before caddie fees and other expenses.

The AIG Women's Open purse totalled $10 million (£7.41 million), a 2.56% increase from the previous year's $9.75 million (£7.23 million). Non-UK athletes competing in the country must pay UK income tax on prize money earned, calculated under the country's progressive income tax system. The top tax rate applied to Kuwaki's winnings was 45%, the same rate every Open Championship winner has faced from HMRC since 2013. The rate was reduced from 50% in 2013; Jiyai Shin paid tax at the 50% rate after winning at the same venue in 2012.

After the tax deduction, Kuwaki must also pay her caddie 10% of her winnings, amounting to $150,000. This leaves her with $706,948 before accounting for any further expenses. Jenny Shin, representing South Korea, similarly paid UK taxes after winning the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links the previous month.