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Agence France-Presse

Philippine teenager Yuka Saso birdied the third play-off hole to beat Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and win the US Women’s Open at Olympic Club on Sunday.
Saso, 19, shook off two early double bogeys, coming back with late birdies at 16 and 17 in a two-over 73 to thrust herself into a play-off with a four-under total of 280 for 72 holes.
As overnight leader Lexi Thompson faded, Hataoka carded a final-round 68, but after both she and Saso parred both holes of the two-hole aggregate play-off, it was Saso who came up with a birdie at the sudden-death third hole.
Saso matched South Korean Park In-bee as the youngest winners in the championship’s history at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days, and earned her LPGA Tour membership.
Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan on course for first LPGA Tour top-10 finish
“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, whose professional resume included two Japan LPGA victories but no wins on the LPGA Tour.
“I don’t know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone.”

Saso had held the 36-hole lead and started the day one shot off Thompson’s lead. But she was in trouble early with double bogeys at the second and third.
“I was actually upset,” she said. “My caddie talked to me, said there’s still many holes to go – just keep doing what I was doing the last few days and trust the process.”
Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan completes her first-ever top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour, shooting two-under 69 in the final round
Saso was two-under the rest of the way, and had a long birdie putt to win at the 72nd hole. It didn’t drop, but she rattled in the par putt to force the play-off.
Thompson, seeking a second career major to go with her 2014 ANA Inspiration title, was five strokes up on the front nine and remained four up with eight to play.
A double-bogey at 11 signalled the start of a slide and her bogey at 14 saw her lead down to two.
Unable to take advantage of the par-five 16th, she missed a five-foot par putt at the par-five 17th to fall into a tie for first.
At the 18th, Thompson was in the fairway but her approach found the front greenside bunker and she left a 10-foot putt to save par, and make the play-off, two feet short.
“That’s what this golf course can do to you,” said Thompson of the imposing par-71 Lake Course at Olympic, which has hosted five men’s US Opens but had never before hosted a women’s major.
She finished with a four-over par 75 that left her alone in third on 281.
“And that’s what I’ve said all week. Overall, I’d be the first one to tell you that I hit some bad golf shots (down the stretch) and I deserved it,” Thompson added, “but it’s golf.”
Hataoka seemed an unlikely title challenger as the day began. She was six shots off the lead and came within a whisker of completing the greatest final-round rally in US Women’s Open history.


She started with a birdie at the first, and rebounded from a double bogey at the sixth with birdies at the seventh and ninth.
After a bogey at 11 had her seven shots off the pace, the 22-year-old birdied 13, 14 and 16 – where she rolled in a breaking putt to pull within one.
Two pars to finish made her the first in the clubhouse on 280, and it wasn’t long until she was joined there by Saso.
It was Hataoka’s fourth LPGA Tour play-off and her second in a major, but in each one she has come up empty.
“On the first (major championship) play-off I had to wait over an hour, so I was kind of excited,” Hataoka said of her near-miss at the 2018 Women’s PGA Championship. “It got me all excited and uptight.
“But this one since it was right away, I decided I would just be relaxed, then just keep doing what I’m supposed to be doing, and this was the result.”


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LPGA Tour

US Open: Philippine teen Yuka Saso edges Nasa Hataoka in play-off to claim first major

Filipino-Japanese teenager Yuka Saso won her first major at the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Photo: Kyodo

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: Yuka Saso of the Philippines celebrates with the Harton S. Semple Trophy after winning the 76th U.S. Women's Open Championship at The Olympic Club on June 06, 2021 in San Francisco, California. Saso won following a three-hole playoff against Nasa Hataoka of Japan. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Jason Kokrak holds off Jordan Spieth to capture PGA Colonial crown

Jason Kokrak claimed his second PGA Tour title at Colonial Country Club. Photo: AFP

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MAY 30: Jordan Spieth hits an approach shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club on May 30, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Masters 2021: Kim si-woo still in the mix despite putting with 3-wood after breaking putter

Si Woo Kim, of South Korea, leans on his 3 wood which he had to use to putt on the 16th green during the second round of the 2021 Masters. Photo: AP

Sport

Golf


Saso matches South Korean Park In-bee as the youngest winners in the championship’s history at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days



Saso matches South Korean Park In-bee as the youngest winners in the championship’s history at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days.


US Open: Philippine teen Yuka Saso edges Nasa Hataoka in play-off to claim first major

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Saso matches South Korean Park In-bee as the youngest winners in the championship’s history at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days

Saso matches South Korean Park In-bee as the youngest winners in the championship’s history at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days