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Jonathan White

Yuka Saso made history on Sunday night when she beat Japan’s Nasa Hataoka in a play-off to win the women’s US Open, coming from behind to take the chance from third-round leader Lexi Thompson.
Saso, just 19, became the joint youngest winner of the event with South Korea’s Inbee Park – both of them won the US Women’s Open at 19, years, 11 months and 17 days.
The teenager entered the tournament in San Francisco’s Olympic Club as the No 40 on the Rolex Rankings and not officially a member of the LPGA Tour. That has changed now.
Saso has earned an LPGA Tour card, which she accepted after winning the trophy on Sunday – and that comes with a five-year exemption as a major winner.

Yuka Saso is a U.S. Women's Open Champion!

Saso is the first male or female from the Philippines to win a major championship! pic.twitter.com/FrOLI8azXn
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 6, 2021

“My dream was to be World No 1 and win a US Women’s Open,” she said. “But I wasn’t thinking that I would really hold this trophy this week.”
In winning, Saso became the first male or female from the Philippines to win a major championship on either the PGA or LPGA Tours.
Philippine teen Saso edges Hataoka in play-off to win US Open
Kyodo reported that Sasa is a dual citizen of the Philippines and Japan – her father is Japanese and her mother Filipino – so she also became only the third Japanese woman to win a major.
“To all my friends and fans back in the Philippines and Japan: I’m really thankful. I hope I can keep this going,” Saso said after her historic win.
Saso was born on June 20, 2001 to parents Fritzie and Masazuka in San Ildefonso, Philippines﻿. She dedicated the win to them. “I’d like to thank my family. I wouldn’t be here without them.”

A new star is born in the women's game!

Yuka Saso is the 76th #USWomensOpen champion. pic.twitter.com/sI2wkHh9pA
— U.S. Women's Open (USGA) (@uswomensopen) June 6, 2021

The teenager has not come out of nowhere, though, after a strong amateur career.
Saso won double gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, taking the individual gold – a first for the Philippines – and then another in the team event with Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go.
A year later she turned professional, joining the Japan LPGA Tour in 2020 where Saso won two tournaments in her first year. A 13th-place finish at last year’s US Women’s Open was not a bad first appearance either, while she has racked up individual awards off the course.

"I get LPGA?"

"Are you kidding me?"

Yuka Saso has accepted LPGA Tour membership pic.twitter.com/BfIkf3qYAy
— LPGA (@LPGA) June 7, 2021

She was named the 2020 Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), following on from winning in 2018 on the back of her Asian Games successes. She shared that with fellow Asian Games gold medal winners Pagdanganan, Go and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.
Saso models her swing on Rory McIlroy’s and the Northern Irish star is a keen fan of the teenager. “Great playing the last few days, Yuka Saso,” he wrote on Instagram. “Go finish it out today and get that trophy”.
Saso thanked McIlroy, the player who inspired her start in golf, after her win.

Hey @McIlroyRory!

She did. #USWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/ZSjSA97yPX
— U.S. Women's Open (USGA) (@uswomensopen) June 6, 2021

“Rory mentioned me on Instagram and said, ‘Get that trophy.’ And I did, so ‘Thank you, Rory,’” she said. McIlroy was not done there, tweeting: “Everyone’s going to be watching Yuka Saso swing videos on YouTube now.”
Even before the US Women’s Open win, Saso was No 22 on the 40-woman list for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and she is a shoo-in for a first Olympic Games appearance now.
Also on the horizon is a first Southeast Asian Games appearance having pulled out in both 2017 and 2019.


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LPGA Tour

Who is Yuka Saso? Philippine-Japanese teen US Open champion on the cusp of Olympic qualification

Yuka Saso of the Philippines celebrates with the Harton S. Semple Trophy after winning the 76th US Women's Open Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Photo: AFP

US Open: Philippine teen Yuka Saso edges Nasa Hataoka in play-off to claim first major

Filipino-Japanese teenager Yuka Saso won her first major at the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Photo: Kyodo

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: Yuka Saso of the Philippines celebrates with the Harton S. Semple Trophy after winning the 76th U.S. Women's Open Championship at The Olympic Club on June 06, 2021 in San Francisco, California. Saso won following a three-hole playoff against Nasa Hataoka of Japan. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Philippines star Kai Sotto joins NBL’s Adelaide 36ers ahead of 2022 NBA Draft

Filipino basketball star Kai Sotto trains ahead of his NBA G-League Select Team welcoming in Walnut Creek, California. Photo: East-West Private    

Philippines NBA hope Kai Sotto leaves G League Ignite

Filipino national youth team player Kai Sotto scores against Japan in 2017. Photo: Handout

Sport

Golf

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Asia

Profiles


Dual citizen of Japan and Philippines is a fan of Rory McIlroy, who told her to go out and win the US Women’s Open trophy
Double Asian Games gold medallist in 2018 now expected to be at Tokyo 2020 Olympics this summer



Dual citizen of Japan and Philippines is a fan of Rory McIlroy, who told her to go out and win the trophy.


Asian Games 2018

The Philippines

Who is Yuka Saso? Philippine-Japanese teen US Open champion on the cusp of Olympic qualification

Dual citizen of Japan and Philippines is a fan of Rory McIlroy, who told her to go out and win the US Women’s Open trophy Double Asian Games gold medallist in 2018 now expected to be at Tokyo 2020 Olympics this summer

Dual citizen of Japan and Philippines is a fan of Rory McIlroy, who told her to go out and win the US Women’s Open trophy

Double Asian Games gold medallist in 2018 now expected to be at Tokyo 2020 Olympics this summer