Japan's Yuka Saso delivered a stellar performance on the back nine to win her second US Women's Open title on Sunday. She carded a two-under-par 68, securing a three-shot victory at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania. Saso finished with a four-under-par total of 276, marking her second LPGA tour title three years after winning the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco when she represented the Philippines.
"It feels great," said Saso, whose mother is from the Philippines and father from Japan. "Winning in 2021, I represented the Philippines, and I feel like I was able to give back to my mom. This year, I was able to represent Japan, and I think I was able to give back to my dad. It's just a wonderful feeling that I was able to give back to my parents in the same way."
Saso joined South Koreans Pak Se-ri and Chun In-gee as the only players to make their first two LPGA wins major titles. At 22, she is the youngest player to win the US Women's Open twice. Despite a four-putt double-bogey at the par-three sixth, Saso birdied four holes in a five-hole stretch from the 12th through the 16th to pull away as the overnight co-leaders, including Australia's Minjee Lee, faltered.
"I just tried to be patient out there," Saso said. "I think that's what you need to win a major like this—just have fun playing with the playing partners and enjoy the challenge."
Japan's Hinako Shibuno, the 2019 Women's British Open champion, finished second with a two-over-par 72, ending with a one-under 279 total. She was a stroke ahead of overnight co-leader Andrea Lee of the United States and American Ally Ewing. Ewing shot a four-under 66, while Lee struggled with a five-over 75.
Third-round co-leader Wichanee Meechai of Thailand shot a 77, finishing in a group at 282, while two-time major winner Minjee Lee had a difficult round of 78, ending in a group at 283. Despite a two-shot lead at the turn, Lee's mistakes mounted as Saso gained momentum, sinking a 10-foot birdie putt at the 12th and taking the solo lead with a birdie at the par-five 13th.
Saso added birdies at the 15th and 16th, driving the green at the short par-four 16th. She maintained her lead despite a three-putt bogey at 17, sealing her win with a superb chip and two-putt par at the 18th.
"It was an emotional win for Saso, who fought back tears as she thanked her family during the trophy presentation. "Winning just makes you look back on all the things that your family and your team and my sponsors—they supported me throughout good or bad," she said.
Andrea Lee, the last player with a chance to catch Saso, closed with back-to-back bogeys. "I really grinded out there," Lee said. "I tried to come back, but it was tough. I just didn't have my best today."
Minjee Lee started strong with an 11-foot birdie at the first but struggled thereafter, hitting her first fairway at the 10th but three-putting for a bogey as Saso birdied the 12th. Lee's round worsened at the 12th, where she found water and double-bogeyed, dropping her two shots behind Saso.
"I started good," Lee said. "Felt like I hit it pretty good, just missed a couple putts for birdie early and then I kind of blew up from there."
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