Yuka Saso claimed her second U.S. Women’s Open title on Sunday, marking her place in history as the first Filipino to win the Women’s Open in 2021 and now the first from Japan to win women’s golf’s premier event.
The 22-year-old delivered an impressive performance at Lancaster Country Club with a 2-under 68. She made four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine, capitalizing on her competitors’ errors to secure a decisive win.
Saso finished with a 4-under 276, three shots ahead of Hinako Shibuno, who became the first Japanese player to win the Women’s British Open in 2019. They were the only two players under par, a rarity for the Women’s Open over the past decade.
With two titles on the Japan LPGA, Saso joins Se Ri Pak and In Gee Chun as the only players to have their first two LPGA victories be major championships.
Andrea Lee, who started the day in a three-way tie for the lead, was the last player with a chance to catch Saso. However, Lee missed her tee shot on the 16th, settled for par, and then bogeyed the 17th. She concluded with a 75, tying for third with Ally Ewing, who shot 66.
Saso has expressed a desire to play for both the Philippines and Japan, reflecting her heritage from her Filipino mother and Japanese father. She chose to switch citizenship before turning 21, leading a strong showing by Japan, with five players finishing in the top 10.
“Winning in 2021, I represented the Philippines. I feel like I was able to give back to my mom,” Saso said at the trophy presentation. “This year I was able to represent Japan, and I think I was able to give back to my dad. I’m very happy that I was able to do it.”
Saso earned $2.4 million from the $12 million purse, the largest in women’s golf and standalone women’s sports. The victory also positions her for a return to the Olympics; she played for the Philippines in the 2021 Tokyo Games and tied for ninth.
Sunday’s final round was marked by significant struggles among the leaders. The final two groups combined for a 22-over par, with Minjee Lee’s performance being particularly notable. The two-time major champion, who led by three shots on the front nine, hit her tee shot into the water on the par-3 12th, resulting in a double bogey. She hit into waist-high grass on the 14th for another double bogey, finishing with a 78.
“I started good,” Lee said, after reaching 6 under with a birdie on the first hole. “Just missed a couple putts for birdie early and then I kind of blew up from there.”
Wichanee Meechai of Thailand, ranked 158th in the world with no LPGA wins, took herself out of contention early with a triple bogey on the par-3 sixth and shot 77.
Saso also faced challenges, including a four-putt double bogey on the par-3 sixth that left her four shots behind Lee. However, she recovered with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 12th, followed by a wedge to 3 feet on the par-5 13th hole, a 6-foot birdie on the 15th, and a 3-wood to 20 feet on the par-4 16th for another birdie.
Despite a three-putt bogey on the 17th, Saso maintained her lead and was in the scoring room when her victory was confirmed, receiving congratulations from her fellow competitors.
Saso is the second woman to win a major under two flags. Sally Little won the 1980 LPGA Championship for South Africa and the du Maurier Classic in 1988 as an American citizen.
Sunday’s round saw numerous collapses. Andrea Lee three-putted the first hole and double-bogeyed the fourth after hitting into a creek and then a tree. Meechai three-putted her first two holes and found the creek on the sixth.
Saso’s previous U.S. Women’s Open win also involved a dramatic finish, with Lexi Thompson losing a five-shot lead over the final 10 holes. This time, Saso secured her victory with steady play and strategic birdies on key holes.
