Saso launches drive for 1st JLPGA major

MANILA, Philippines — Facing an enormous task this week, Yuka Saso is leaving nothing to chance, making the most of the limited time to prepare while keeping a positive mindset in pursuit not only of a third LPGA of Japan tour diadem but also a first major championship.

The Y200 million JLPGA Championship Minolta Cup reels off today with the young Fil-Japanese ace, as leader in the money race and winner of two of the first four events in the season, easily the marked player in the 132-player field which features the best and the brightest in the region’s premier ladies circuit.

In fact, Momoko Ueda, sixth in the recent British Women’s Open, has opted to compete here than in LPGA Tour’s second major – the ANA Inspiration – also slated this week in Rancho Mirage, California with the likes of 16-time JLPGA winner Ai Suzuki, last week’s Golf5 tilt runaway winner Sakura Koiwai and Earth Mondahmin Cup champion Ayaka Watanabe all primed up for the next four days.

But Saso is no pushover. Despite her rookie tag, the ICTSI-backed bet has proven her worth this early in her campaign, her power game impressing the rest of the best and her iron play and putting continuing to get better and better as the circuit wears on.

Sure, she did go on a kind of slump last week just like any other campaigner, groping for form in the first two days before rallying to finish tied at 29th in the Golf5 Ladies after scoring back-to-back victories in NEC Karuizawa and Nitori Ladies.