Japan’s Yuka Saso came from three shots behind on Sunday to become the youngest player to win two US Women’s Open titles.
There had been a three-way tie heading into what became a dramatic final day at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, with Australia’s Minjee Lee, American Andrea Lee and Thailand’s Wichanee Meechai level at the top of the leaderboard.
But Saso, 22, produced a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine to snatch victory by three strokes.
Her two-under-par 68 saw her triumph on four under, with compatriot Hinako Shibuno finishing second.
SECOND US OPEN TITLE
That gave Saso, who switched her international allegiance from the Philippines in 2022, her second LPGA Tour title – both coming at the US Women’s Open. Saso became the first Filipino player to win a major when she clinched her first US Women’s Open title as a teenager in 2021.
“Winning in 2021, I represented the Philippines [and] I feel like I was able to give back to my mom,” Saso said at her 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 suffered an early blow on Sunday when she followed a birdie on the second by four-putting the sixth for a double bogey. But after steadying the ship she stormed clear as only two players in the field to finish under par, with Minjee Lee coming home in 41 for an eight-over 78, while Meechai struggled to a closing 77.
Andrea Lee posted a 75 to share third place with fellow American Ally Ewing, who surged through the field with a closing 66.
Charley Hull finished the highest of the English contingent, tying for 19th on +6 after fighting back with a closing 67, while Jodi Ewart Shadoff was tied for 29th on +9.
TOUGH SCORING CONDITIONS
The Lancaster course proved a particularly tough challenge for the world’s best women’s players this week, with a combination of narrow fairways, long rough and large, fast greens resulting in some unusually high scores.
The cut came at +8 on Friday, with a host of big-name players falling on the wrong side of the mark, including world no.1 Nelly Korda (+10) and world No.6 Rose Zhang (+11), who fired opening rounds of 80 and 79 respectively and missed the cut along with Brooke Henderson (+12), Lydia Ko (+13), Georgia Hall (+11), Leona Maguire (+10) and Maja Stark (+13). Lexi Thompson, who announced her retirement from professional golf at the start of the week, also made an early exit after shooting rounds of 78 and 75.
Korda’s undoing came as early as her third hole on Thursday when she racked up a septuple-bogey 10 after finding the water three times at the par-3 12th hole during her first round.
Yuka Saso’s winning gear
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9°)
Fairway wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15°)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (19°)
Irons: Callaway Apex CB (4-5), Callaway Apex MB (6-9)
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Forged Raw (46°, 48°) Callaway Jaws Raw (52°, 56°, 60°)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Milled Three T
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X