Yuka Saso, 19, became the first Filipino winner of the U.S. Women’s Open and the second to win an LPGA Tour event title on Sunday.
Victories: Saso represents the Philippines and is of Filipino and Japanese descent, according to JapanTimes. The U.S. Women’s Open is her third professional win. She previously won the NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament and the Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament on the Japan LPGA Tour in 2020, according to Golf Digest.
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Saso tied with Inbee Park as the youngest U.S. Women’s Open winner. Both Saso and Park were exactly 19 years, 11 months, and 17 days old on the days they won the Open.
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She is the second Filipino to win an LPGA Tour event, following Jennifer Rosales who won the Chick-Fil-A Charity Championship in 2004 and the SBS Open at Turtle Bay one year later.
About the win: Saso spent hours watching videos of Rory McIlroy’s swings and modeled her swing after his, according to Associated Press.
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Saso won against Lexi Thompson after both players “made pars at Nos. 9 and 18,” and Nasa Hataoka after a “sudden death back at the ninth hole,” reported Golfweek.
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“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,” said Saso.
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Filipino LPGA Tour pro player Bianca Pagdanganan said to Golf Digest that the win is not only good for Saso but “good for the Philippines” and that she “put us on the radar.”
Featured Image via CNN (left), Tengolf Televisión (Right)
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