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Sasō Yūka (born 20 June 2001) is a Japanese professional golfer. Saso was born in the Philippines, competing for them through 2021, having won the first ever gold medal for the Philippines in both women's individual and women's team event in Asian Games golf competitions. she represents Japan.
With Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, Saso secured an unexpected historic gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in the women's team event. She also won the women's individual competition, the first Asian Games gold medal for the Philippines in the women's individual event.
Saso also took part in the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina where she almost won a medal. After the final round of the women's individual competition, two other golfers, Alessia Nobilio of Italy and Emma Spitz of Austria, matched her result of 214 with Kim Grace of Australia winning the gold medal. Saso, Nobilio, and Spitz had to take part in a three-way playoff. Saso narrowly failed to win a medal with Nobilio winning silver and Spitz bronze. Saso also played in the mixed team event pairing with male golfer and compatriot, Carl Jano Corpus.
Saso did not participate in the Southeast Asian Games, opting to skip the regional games due to conflicting schedule in both the 2017 and 2019 editions.
Saso is one of the three Filipino golfers who competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. She finished 9th in the women’s individual event.
Saso earned her first victory at the 2020 NEC Karuizawa 72. She then won the next event, the Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament. On June 6, 2021, she won the 2021 U.S. Women's Open in a playoff against Nasa Hataoka, her first major title, becoming the first Filipino to win the tournament. Saso, at age 19 years, 11 months, 17 days, matched Inbee Park (2008 U.S. Women's Open champion) as the youngest golfer to win the tournament.
Starting with the 2022 LPGA Tour, Saso would be representing Japan following her decision to keep her Japanese citizenship as per Japanese law on dual nationality.
Saso won her second U.S. Women's Open in 2024, defeating Hinako Shibuno by three strokes at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Saso has represented the Philippines in international golf competitions until 2021 but started officially competing for Japan in 2022. Saso, however, feels connection to both her Filipino and Japanese heritage.
Source:
LPGA Tour playoff record (1–0)
CUT = missed the half-way cut
^ Official as of 2024 season
Professional
Professional career
Saso turned professional in November 2019 after earning a LPGA of Japan Tour card for 2020. In late June 2020, she made her debut at the Earth Mondahmin Cup in Chiba where she placed fifth.
Citizenship
Saso held both Japanese and Filipino citizenship but was obliged to renounce one of her two citizenships by the time she turns 22 years old in 2023 as per Japanese nationality law. In November 2021, Saso announced her intention to keep her Japanese citizenship. She had completed the process by January 2022.
Amateur wins
Professional wins (4)
LPGA Tour wins (2)
Major championships (2) 1 6 Jun 2021 U.S. Women's Open 69-67-71-73=280 −4 Playoff Nasa Hataoka 1,000,000 2 2 Jun 2024 U.S. Women's Open (2) 68-71-69-68=276 −4 3 strokes Hinako Shibuno 2,400,000 1 2021 U.S. Women's Open Nasa Hataoka Tied two-hole aggregate playoff
Won with birdie on third playoff hole:
Hataoka: 4-4=8 (E), 4, Saso: 4-4=8 (E), 3
LPGA of Japan Tour wins (2)
1 16 Aug 2020 NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament 65-72-63=200 −16 4 strokes Saiki Fujita
Maiko Wakabayashi2 30 Aug 2020 Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament 67-69-68-71=275 −13 2 strokes Sakura Koiwai
Major championships
Wins (2)
1 Defeated Hataoka in a two-hole aggregate playoff, followed by a sudden-death playoff: Saso (4-4-3=11) and Hataoka (4-4-4=12 )
Nasa Hataoka 2024 U.S. Women's Open (2) 3 shots deficit −4 (68-71-69-68=276) 3 strokes Hinako Shibuno
Results timeline
Chevron Championship T50 T17 CUT T30 CUT U.S. Women's Open CUT T13 1 CUT T20 1 CUT Women's PGA Championship T21 T30 2 68 T66 Evian Championship NT CUT T3 CUT CUT Women's British Open T39 CUT CUT CUT
NT = no tournament
T = tied
Summary
3 4 5 1 1
LPGA Tour career summary
2019 1 0 0 0 0 0 CUT n/a n/a 74.00 n/a 2020 3 20
0 0 0 T13 n/a n/a 72.40 n/a 2021 10 10 1 (1) 0 0 4 1 1,517,876 6 69.36 4 2022 26 19 0 1 1 4 2 773,294 36 70.73 34 2023 22 17 0 1 2 8 2 1,822,486 9 70.29 14 2024 22 15 1 (1) 0 0 3 1 2,867,618 4 71.19 48
^Includes matchplay and other tournaments without a cut.
World ranking
Position in Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.
Team appearances
Amateur
Source:
Awards
External links
Categories: Official, Filipino Female Golfers, Japanese Female Golfers, Lpga Of Japan Tour Golfers, Lpga Tour Golfers, Winners Of Lpga Major Golf Championships, Olympic Golfers For The Philippines, Golfers At The 2020 Summer Olympics, Olympic Golfers For Japan, Golfers At The 2024 Summer Olympics, Golfers At The 2018 Asian Games, Asian Games Gold Medalists For The Philippines, Asian Games Gold Medalists In Golf, Medalists At The 2018 Asian Games, Golfers At The 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, Sportspeople From Bulacan, Tagalog People, Filipino People Of Japanese Descent, 2001 Births, Living People, 21st-century Japanese Sportswomen
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