YUKA Saso is bracing for a showdown with popular hometown bet Lexi Thompson for the 76th US Women’s Open championship in an intriguing duel between two former prodigies separated by a shot at the top after 54 holes at the challenging Olympic Club in San Francisco yesterday (Saturday in the US).
A stroke up entering the third round, Saso fired an even par-71 over the 6,546-yard Lake layout, missing a par-saving putt from 12 feet on the 18th hole, the ball lipping out, to yield the lead to Thompson, who was virtually flawless in shooting a bogey-free 66.
Thompson, 26, who became the youngest qualifier when she made her US Open debut at the precocious age of 12 and won her first US LPGA title at 16, had a one shot lead with a three-round tally of 206 over Saso, who shot earlier rounds of 67 and 69, respectively.
A two-time winner on the Japanese LPGA tour, the Filipino-Japanese teenager will bid to be the fourth player in the last three years to win a major by a non-member after defending South Korean champion A Lim Kim, who missed the cut; 2019 US Women’s Open champion Sofia Popov of Germany and Japanese Hinako Shibuno, who captured the 2019 British Women’s Open.
“I think I started good. Started with a birdie followed with a bogey,” said the low-key Saso, 19, who had three more birdies and as many bogeys in her final 12 holes after missing eight of 18 greens in regulation, the worst in three days.
She brilliantly bailed herself out of trouble twice in succession from bunkers on holes Nos. 3 and 4, going par and bogey, respectively.
“But I think I holed some good putts, just a little disappointing that I misread two putts, but I think it’s a great day,” the 2020 Philippine Sportswriters Association of the Year assessed.
“I think I’ve learned so much last year and this year. I played in so many good tournaments and I’ve been having a great chance playing with great players, seeing them play, being so patient, trusting on what they do,” said Saso, who has aped the swing of Northern Irishman and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.
“So I think I’m just going to stay patient and trust the process,” added Saso.
Thompson is still searching for her first US Women’s Open title in her 15th straight appearance in the pro women’s golf showcase.
Experience will definitely on the American’s side, who boasts four top 10 finishes in the competition, including a tie for runner-up honors in the 2019 edition at the Country Club in Charleston, South Carolina, on top of winning the ANA Inspiration in 2014 in Rancho Mirage, California.
“It helps to just have that experience,” Thompson said. “For me it’s no different mindset going into tomorrow. I’ve been working extremely hard on my game and the mental side.”
Yaso and Thompson will be in the final threesome with American amateur Megha Anne, who stood at 210 in a two-way tie with US Women’s Open South Korean titlist Jeong Eun Lee 6 after they shot 72 and 73, respectively.
Aside from the top prize of $1.5 million (roughly P71.5 million), the US Women’s Open champion will also receive the Mickey Wright medal, named after the eight-time US major winner, and the Harton S. Semple trophy for a year.
The champion will also be exempt from qualifying for the 10 next editions of the tournament and exemptions to the succeeding ANA Inspiration, Women’s British Open, KPMG Women’s PGA and Evian championship tournaments.
