As with many a U.S. Women's Open, it was a crazy final day which saw Yuka Saso claim her second Major title
Nearly three years to the day, Yuka Saso has added a second Major and second LPGA victory to her resume, on what became a battle of nerves for players during the final round of the 79th U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally.
Starting the day three shots back and seemingly with the most to do amongst the five players that began their rounds under par, Saso got off to a strong start with a birdie on the second hole. Three shots remained the deficit as round three co-leader Minjee Lee also birdied the first to get to six-under-par.
All week, Saso had showcased her exemplary putting skills but her ability to read the unforgiving and tricky greens of Lancaster Country Club seemed to leave her on the par 3 sixth hole. A four-putt led to a double bogey and a drop back to one-under-par.
At this point, the deficit may have seemed to much, as Minjee Lee looked strong and in control, to start with and the four other players in the under-par crew faltered. But as I have written so many times, this is a Major Sunday.
"Double is good luck"
Rather than let the four putt double bogey get into her head, Saso explained afterwards that she used it as motivation:
"I hit a good tee shot on one after three days. I think I played pretty stable. I made double bogey on six, though. I think that happens every time. I think that happened to me in 2021. I think that double is good luck."
The double on six would be the only blemish on the Japanese player's card until the par 3 17th. Between the sixth and 17th hole, Saso would birdie four out of five holes from 12 to 16. A bogey save on 17 limited the damage and she had a three shot lead heading down the last with two groups behind her.
A par on the 18th was enough to secure her victory as her closet rival Andrea Lea did not give herself birdie changes on the final few holes.
Patience and using her understanding of what it takes to win a U.S. Women's Open paid off:
"I was hitting my driver really good. I don't think I missed a lot of fairways today. I putted really good. I switched to this new putter, Odyssey. I've been putting really well with that, and I think that helped a little bit, as well. I think I just stayed patient and enjoyed playing golf."
Minjee Lee "blew up"
As for the rest of the under-par crew. I could describe Minjee Lee's round but in the end it was simply the pressure that got to her, something that she admitted after her round. A bogey on three, was followed by another on five and nine, and once her ball found water on 12. It was clear it was clear that a third Major was out of her grasp. An eight-over-par 78, meant she finished in a tie for ninth at three-over-par.
"I started good. Felt like I hit it pretty good; just missed a couple putts for birdie early and then I kind of blew up from there," the 2022 U.S. Women's Open simply said.
Andrea Lee was in search of her first Major. I start of bogey and then a double on four, meant that she also had an uphill struggle. She steadied the ship and got back to two-under-par after a great birdie on 12 but two further bogies opened the door for Saso. The American finished on even par and tied with Ally Ewing, who shot a fantastic 66, in third.
Wichanee Meechai also let the pressure of the final day get to her. A bogey, bogey start followed by a treble on six, saw her out of the running from that point. The Thai player shot seven-over-par and finished in a sixth and two-over-par.
Hinako Shibuno was the only one who limited the damage of a difficult final day for the leading group. The 2019 AIG Women's Open champion shot two-over-par with four bogies and two birdie.
"I have been very nervous all the way through. I was not able to make as many birdies, and I had three-putts in some places, and even I didn't make the shorter putts. I feel like there are some places that are a little bit regrettable, but still, I think I finished strong."
A win for Japan and the Philippines
On winning this week, Saso becomes the youngest player to win the U.S. Open twice at just 22-years-old and after switching nationality from her mother's native Philippines to her father's native Japan, she has now won Majors for two different countries and becomes the first Japanese player since Shibuno to win a women's Major.
"It feels great. Winning in 2021 I represented the Philippines, 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. I'm very happy that I was able to do it. It's just a wonderful feeling that I was able to give back to my parents in the same way."
The week started with an ace and a 10 and ended with and ended in true Major fashion, a survival of the strongest mindset. Nelly Korda called it at on Tuesday, "It's just going to test every part of your game, even your mental game because it's a Major championship," and that it was. An uncomfortable watch at times due to its difficulty but brought out a worthy Major champion in Yuka Saso.
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Callaway Golf competition
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Inspired by the second women's Major of the season? Why not come and watch the best players in the world at the AIG Women's Open this summer at St Andrews. Ticket prices start from £20.
