MANILA, Philippines — Nang angkinin ni Yuka Saso ang US Women’s Open title noong 2021 ay inialay niya ito sa Pilipinas.
Kahapon ay muling nakamit ng Fil-Japanese golfer ang prestihiyosong tropeo na inialay naman niya sa kanyang mga magulang.
“Winning in 2021, I represented the Philippines. I feel like I was able to give back to my mom,” sabi ng 22-anyos na si Saso matapos pagreynahan ang torneo kahapon sa Lancaster Country Club sa Pennsylvania. “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.”
Si Saso ang naging pinakabatang player na nagwagi ng dalawang US Women’s Open crown at sinamahan sina Se Ri Pak at In Gee Chun bilang tanging mga players na kumuha ng dalawang LPGA victories major championships.
“I haven’t won in three years. I definitely had a little doubt if I can win again or if I won’t win again. But yeah, I think those experiences helped a lot, and I think I was able to prove a little bit something to myself,” ani Saso.
Bukod sa silver Semple Trophy ay nakamit din ni Saso ang premyong $2.4 million (halos P140 milyon) mula sa kabuuang $12 million purse na pinakamalaki sa women’s golf at sa women’s sports sa isang standalone venue.
Matapos ipanganak sa San Ildefonso, Bulacan ay tumira ang pamilya ni Saso sa Japan at sa edad na 8-anyos ay nangarap na maging isang top-ranked player kagaya ni retired Japanese golf star Ai Miyazato.
Pumalo si Saso ng dalawang gold medal sa individual at team event ng 2018 Asian Games at kumampanya sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics bago piliing maging isang Japanese citizen kagaya ng kanyang amang si Masakazu.