Yuka Saso: Equal youngest US Women’s Open winner

Caption: Yuka Saso, from the Philippines, with the United States’ Women’s Open trophy. Photo credit: Robert Beck / USGA.

Yuka Saso converted a 12-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a tension-packed play-off to seal an historic victory in the 76th United States Women’s Open – and spark celebrations in her home country of the Philippines.

At the age of 19 years, 11 months and 17 days, Saso joined World Golf hall of fame member and seven-time major championship winner Park In-bee as the youngest champion in US Women’s Open history – to the very day.

Saso also became the first player from the Philippines to have her name engraved on the Harton S Semple Trophy. Princess Mary Superal (2014 US Girls’ Junior) is the only other player from the Philippines to claim a United States Golf Association title.

“I don’t know what’s happening in the Philippines right now, but I’m just thankful that there’s so many people in the Philippines cheering for me,” Saso said after the win.

Saso, whose golf swing looks similar to that of Rory McIlory, is best known in our part of the world as the runner-up to Atthaya Thitikul in the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2018.

On that occasion, Saso was beaten in a play-off. This time, it was the Filipina who prevailed in extra time against Japan’s Nasa Hataoka. Both players made back-to-back pars in the two-hole aggregate play-off on holes nine and 18, which then went into sudden-death. It culminated on the ninth green where Saso snared a breaking right-to-left putt.

“I don’t know how to thank them (the fans). They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone,” added Saso, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour of Japan, who turned professional last year.

Saso, a semi-finalist in both the 2016 US Women’s Amateur and 2019 US Girls’ Junior, entered the final round two strokes behind American Lexi Thompson and quickly became a seemingly afterthought with back-to-back double bogeys on holes two and three.

Her front-nine 38 left her five strokes behind Thompson. But Saso never lost focus as Thompson started to crumble. Consecutive birdies on the par five 16th and 17th holes tied her with Hataoka and Thompson.

Thompson, the 54-hole leader, had been five strokes ahead of her closest pursuers with 10 holes remaining, only to play the final eight in five over par, including consecutive bogeys on 17 and 18 that left the 26-year-old Floridian with a final-round 75 and a 281 aggregate.

That was one stroke shy of Saso, who signed off with a 73, and Hataoka, who closed with a brilliant 68.

For 22-year-old Hataoka, a former Faldo Series Asia Grand Final winner, it was a second major play-off loss. She was edged out at the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and has now been defeated in all four play-offs in which she’s competed.

Just reaching the play-off was a remarkable feat for Hataoka given that when she bogeyed 11, she was seven shots off the lead. But she quietly climbed back into contention with consecutive birdies on 13 and 14, and another on 16.

As well as banking a cheque for $US1 million, Saso’s success means she’s exempt from qualifying for the next 10 US Women’s Opens and the next five AIG Women’s British Opens, KPMG Women’s PGA Championships, Evian Championships and ANA Inspirations tournaments.