For the second time in her career, Yuka Saso has won the United States Women’s Open. But unlike the 2021 title where she represented her native country of the Philippines, in 2024, she represented her father’s native country of Japan.
When Saso won the 2021 United States Women’s Open, she became the first player ever from the Philippines to win a major title. On Sunday, she became the third women’s golfer to represent Japan and be in the winner’s circle. The other two were Hisako Higuchi, who won the 1977 Women’s PGA Championship, and Hinako Shubuno, who won the 2019 Women’s British Open. On the men’s side, only one Japanese golfer has won a major title. That is Hideki Matsuyama, who won the 2021 Masters.
You may wonder why Saso has won a major title in women’s golf representing two different countries. That is because Saso grew up as a dual citizen. Her mother was of Filipino descent, while her father was of Japanese descent. However under Japanese law when Saso was 22 years old, she had to renounce one of her two citizenships, and decided to renounce the Philippines.
On Sunday, Saso posted a four round score of -4. Only two players in the entire field were under par. The other was Shibuno, who finished up at -1. Saso was the first round leader at -2. In round two, she dropped down to -1 after a second round score of 71. On Friday, Saso was +1. She had three bogeys and two birdies. Saso bogeyed the 11th, 12th and 15th holes, and birdied the second and 14th holes. On Saturday, Saso had four birdies and three bogeys for a score of 69 to return to -2. She birdied the first ninth, 13th and 14th holes, and bogeyed the 10th, 15th, and 18th holes. Then on Sunday, Saso had five birdies, one bogey and one double bogey. She birdied the second, 12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th holes, bogeyed the 17th hole, and double bogeyed the sixth hole when she had a four putt.
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