Minjee Lee has endured a dramatic collapse to allow Japanese star Yuko Saso to claim US Women’s Open glory in Pennsylvania.
After starting the final round in a three-way share of the lead, then surging three shots clear, Lee closed with a shocking eight-over 78 as Saso (68) produced a late birdie blitz to romp to a three-stroke triumph at Lancaster Country Club.
Saso finished with a four-under-par total of 276, with compatriot Hinako Shibuno (72) runner-up and completing the first-ever Japanese quinella at a major — men’s or women’s.
Americans Andrea Lee (75) and Ally Ewing (66) shared third at even par for the championship.
After taking a two-shot lead into the back nine, Lee eventually wound up in a tie for ninth at three over.
The 27-year-old’s hopes of joining Australian golf royalty with a third career major championship essentially perished in a crushing 15-minute stretch mid round.
Even after racking up a third bogey of the day on the ninth, Lee headed to the back nine two shots in front.
But a sloppy three-putt bogey on the 10th precipitated a shocking meltdown.
Lee dunked her tee shot into the water en route to a double-bogey five on the devilish par-3 12th that brought world No.1 Nelly Korda unstuck on Thursday.
With Saso, playing in the penultimate group behind Lee, posting birdies on 12 and 13, the tournament suddenly turned on a five-shot swing.
From two behind, where she started on Sunday, Saso was three in front of Lee and the rest of the chasing pack.
Another double-bogey from Lee on number 14 ended all hope of the West Australian joining the great Karrie Webb as a dual US Open champion.
A commanding four-shot winner two years at Pine Needles, Lee now must pick up the pieces from Sunday’s wreckage ahead of the season’s last three major championships and Paris Olympics all coming in the next two months.
In stark contrast, Lee’s Olympic teammate Hannah Green finished with a flurry to share 16th at five over following a final-round 66, the equal-low round of the week.
But the spoils — and women’s golf’s biggest winner’s cheque for $US2.4 million ($3.6 million) — belong to Saso, who is nwo a two-time US Open champion.
The Filipino-born star also won in 2021 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
At 22 years, 11 months and 13 days, Saso is the youngest player in history to win two US Women’s Open crowns — and the first ever to land two majors representing different nations.
“It feels great,” an emotional Saso said.
“Winning in 2021 representing the Philippines, I feel like I was able to give back to my mum.
“And this year I was able to represent Japan and I think I was able to give back to my dad.
“So I’m very happy that I was able to do it. It’s just a wonderful feeling that I was able to give back to my parents.”
Her latest triumph looked most unlikely after Saso four-putted for double bogey on the sixth to slip four strikes adrift of Lee.
But then, seemingly in the blink of an eye, everything changed as Lee, striving to join Webb, Jan Stephenson and Peter Thomson as only the fourth Australian to win more than two majors, completely unravelled down the stretch.
Catch up on the action as it unfolded on our blog.
Key events
Update
That concludes our live coverage of the US Women’s Open
It wasn’t to be for Minjee Lee this morning as the Australian fell away on the back nine.
Lee finished in the top 10, but will be disappointed with how she finished the tournament.
That takes nothing away from the champion, Yuka Saso.
Four birdies on the back nine is how everyone should win — let alone a major championship.
You can get all of your sports news online at ABC Sport.
Bye for now.
HOLE 18: Minjee finishes with par, tied-ninth for the tournament
Minjee Lee has finished with par on the final hole.
It was not Lee’s day, despite heading into the back nine with a two-shot lead.
Lee dropped six shots in six holes, while champion Yuka Saso had four birdies in a five-hole span.
HOLE 17: Minjee Lee scores par
Minjee will be hoping to finish on a bright note after scoring par on the 17th.
A birdie on the 18th will move her from a tie for nine, to a tie for sixth.
Yuka Saso wins to US Women’s Open
There are still a few players to finish, but none of them can catch the clubhouse leader Yuka Saso.
The Japanese-Filipino star has won her second US Women’s Open, finishing the tournament four-under-par.
She had a stretch of four birdies in five holes on the back nine which won her the title.
Yuka Saso finishes the tournament at four-under
Yuka Saso is in the clubhouse at four-under-par.
The 2021 champion enjoyed four birdies on the back nine.
She is all but certain to win the tournament.
HOLE 16: Minjee makes par as Saso plays the final hole
It is a par for Minjee Lee on the driveable Par 4, 16th hole.
Minjee is in a tie for ninth with two holes to play.
A birdie in the final holes can move her into the top-six.
Bogey for Saso keeps the tournament alive
Yuka Saso has shown her first sign of nerves, three-putting the 17th hole to score a bogey.
She maintains a two-shot lead, but will not be pleased about giving up a stroke on the penultimate hole.
HOLE 15: Bogey for Minjee Lee
Minjee Lee has dropped another shot and is now out of contention for the US Women’s Open.
She has scored a bogey on hole 15, and is now eight shots off the lead.
Her playing partner, Andrea Lee, birdied 15 to be three shots back, and with an outside chance of winning.
Saso makes it four birdies in five holes
Yuka Saso is on the cusp of winning a second US Women’s Open, and she is doing it the right way.
She has birdied four of her last five holes.
The latest came after driving the green on the Par 4 16th hole, followed by a two-putt for the birdie.
HOLE 14: Things go from bad to worse for Minjee
The 14th hole has continued Minjee Lee’s woes.
Her drive went way left, and she had to take an unplayable.
After taking relief in thick rough, the ball moved which rules officials needed to decide if Minjee caused that movement.
Currently, it appears Minjee did not cause the ball to move, which would incur a penalty.
Her shot out of the rough went into a greenside bunker, as her hopes of winning a second US Women’s Open rapidly fade.
It is a double-bogey for Minjee.
Japan’s Yuka Saso makes birdie and extends lead
Japanese star Yuka Saso is starting to catch fire.
She has just birdied the 15th hole, after taking the lead with a birdies at 12 and 13.
Saso, who is the youngest-ever winner of the US Women’s Open, could become the youngest to win the major tournament twice.
HOLE 13: Lee makes par, remains three shots back
Minjee Lee has made par, after a horror 12th hole where she surrendered the lead of the US Women’s Open.
Lee had a birdie putt that swung from left to right, but unfortunately, it came up short.
The par keeps Lee in contention with five holes to play.
Lee’s playing partner, Andrea Lee, made a birdie on 12 and came very close to repeating that feat on 13.
She in one shot behind the leader, Japan’s Yuka Saso.
HOLE 12: Minjee in the water and loses the lead
Minjee Lee has lost the lead of the US Women’s Open, hitting her tee shot at the Par 3 12th into the water.
Her tee shot hit the front of the green and rolled back into the hazard.
Lee makes a double-bogey, despite a brilliant effort on her bogey putt.
Meanwhile, former US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso has the outright lead of the tournament with a birdie on hole 13.
HOLE 11: Minjee Lee makes par to retain share of lead
Minjee struggles off the tee has continued, hitting her drive into a fairway bunker.
Lee hit her second shot to the front of the green, but it rolled back to the fairway.
A nice chip and putt saved par for Minjee.
HOLE 10: Minjee makes a three-putt bogey
Minjee Lee has picked up her fourth bogey of the day.
She hit her first fairway of the day on the 10th, but her approach left a long birdie putt.
Despite narrowly missing the birdie, Lee was unable to clean up for par.
Her bogey means she now has a tie for the lead, after Japan’s Yuka Saso birdies the 12th hole.
Who is chasing Minjee Lee?
Minjee Lee is three-under par for the tournament entering the final round.
Her final round partner, US player Andrea Lee, is in a tie for second two shots back.
Japan’s Yuka Saso and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol are also one-under, in a tie for second.
Minjee enters the back nine with the lead
Australian Minjee Lee, in the final group, has a two-shot lead with nine holes to play.
Lee started the final round in a three-way tie for the lead and birdied the opening hole.
Since then she has had three bogeys, including the ninth.
However, all other leaders have struggled today at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Minjee steps up to the 10th hole with a two-shot lead.
Welcome to the ABC Sport live blog of the US Women’s Open
Good morning Australia.
Welcome to the ABC Sport live blog of the final round of the US Women’s Open.
Australian Minjee Lee has entered the back-nine with the lead.
Follow live as cover the final stages of the 79th US Women’s Open.
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