Saso targets lofty goals

Big dreamer wants to rule the world

MANILA, Philippines — There’s still a long way to go but young Yuka Saso is setting her lofty goals this early – become world No. 1 and win the Olympic gold.

Though she fell short in her first crack at an LPGA Tour card, she made the grade in the LPGA Tour of Japan and leads the chase for two Philippine spots for the Tokyo Olympics.

“I want to bring joy to Filipinos by becoming their first-ever world No. 1 golfer and to finish on top of the Olympic podium,” said Saso.

No less than the Olympic movement took notice of Saso’s enormous potential as it ran a full-length feature article on the 19-year-old Fil-Japanese, who rose to golf fame in sweeping the individual and team gold medals in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Saso, who also impressed former world No. 1 Sung Hyun Park in an official duel at home last year, talked about her big dreams, the impact of her record Asiad feat and her biggest influencer aside from her dad Masakazu.

“Golf was all I had,” said the Youth Olympic Games veteran in an interview with Ken Browne.

Born in the Philippines, Saso and family moved to Japan when she was four with Masakazu, himself a skilled golfer, exposing her to the sport.

“I couldn’t speak Japanese and I didn’t have any friends so my dad brought me to the driving range, to the golf course, that’s the only thing I did,” she said.

“When I was 9, I said to my dad, I want to be a professional golfer like Rory (McIlroy),” the 2019 Girls Junior PGA Championship titlist also said.

They returned to the country that same year and Saso would home-school, play golf from dawn to dusk daily and diligently work towards her dream.

Though she missed the final cut in LPGA’s Q-Series last year, she earned an LPGA Tour of Japan card and joined the big ranks. After playing two LPGA events in Australia as an invitee early in the season, she got stuck in Japan by the pandemic but relished every minute of her stay with her family in Tokyo.

“When I started playing golf, I didn’t really have a lot of time to spend with my family. Right now, it feels special because I’ve almost stayed with them a half-year now so it’s really relaxing. It feels like home,” said the power-hitter, who moved up from No. 50 to No. 47 in the Reallocation Reserve list for next year’s Olympics following her strong joint fifth place finish in her Japan pro debut last month. Dottie Ardina remains at No. 51.

The long break also gave her more time to watch, study and learn from idol McIlroy’s brand of game.

“I watch Rory almost every day on YouTube. I watch him maybe an hour or so, and then I watch a movie and sleep,” said Saso. “I like his swing, how he hits the ball and how he plays, how he manages the golf course and his attitude on the course.”

While it would take some time before she gains a shot at world No. 1, Saso is focusing on her Olympic dream, which could come next year in her second home, if and when the Quadrennial Games is finally staged after being held back by the pandemic.