Yuka Saso made history by becoming the 76th US Women's Open champion. Here's everything you need to know about the pro golfer and Gen.T honouree
At 19 years old Yuka Saso has made history. The professional golfer and Gen.T honouree won the women’s US Open, becoming the first Filipino player to win a major golf tournament.
While Saso had a rough start in the tournament, she ended by besting Japan’s Nasa Hataoka in the third hole of a sudden death playoff, cementing herself as the winner of the 76th US Women’s Open golf championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
During a post-match press conference over Zoom, Saso told Tatler Asia that nerves had started to kick in after her wobbly start. "I just wanted to stay focused and stay in the zone," she said, adding that the constant support from her fans and team kept her going. "There were so many people holding up Philippines flags. It made me really happy,” she told Reuters.
Despite her string of recent successes, Saso admits that she did not expect to win such a major tournament so soon. "I always get nervous at tournaments. [But] I just stayed focused on my routine, on myself, and I trusted the process. Hard work paid off, I guess," she said to Tatler Asia.
Saso says she's now focusing her attention on the next tournament. "This is a very special win. But this is just the start."
Here's nine things you need to know about the Gen.T honouree and her historic achievement.
1. She's the first Filipino to win the US Open
Yuka Saso is the first Filipino person to ever win the tournament, which is one of four major tournaments in the golfing calendar.
"We are so very proud of Yuka's fantastic win. We have recognised her talent since she was 12 years old," says Enrique K Razon Jr, chairman, president and executive director of ICTSI, one of Saso's major sponsors. "Deep down, we always knew she would be a champion. It is just the tonic the country needs in this crisis."
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