EXPECT former national teammates Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan to have different outlooks when they tee off in the LPGA Drive On Championship at the Crown Colony Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida today (Thursday in the US).
Saso will try to build on her third-place finish at the Gainbridge LPGA at the Boca Rio golfest last week, while Pagdangan hopes to bounce back after missing the cut in the same event as they compete for the $225,000 (roughly P11.4 million) top prize over the par-72, 6,526-yard course in the city that serves as the gateway to southwest Florida.
Although they virtually started as rookies together in the US LPGA tour, Saso has had the better fortune in the circuit so far, highlighted by her victory in the US Women’s Open in June 2021, a victory worth $1 million (P51 million).
Currently ranked No. 7 in the Rolex Women’s World rankings, Saso has netted a total of $1,717,037 (P87.4 million) in 13 straight tournaments where she has not missed a cut.
In contrast, Pagdanganan, who is currently ranked No. 179, has totaled $271,990 (P13.8 million) in career tour earnings while failing to make the cut in four out of 12 tournaments last year.
Saso will not have to contend with Kiwi Lydia Ko and American Danielle Kang, who finished 1-2 in the last tournament, but will still be up against a formidable field that includes Tokyo Olympic Games gold medalist Nelly Korda, accomplished elder sibling Jessica and South Korean Inbee Park, a six-time major winner and the 2008 and 2013 US Women’s Open champion.
