She is the first Japanese player to win the U.S. Women’s Open; she declared her citizenship to that country in November 2021, officially completing the process two months later. She also is the third player with a pair of major championships serving as her first two wins on the LPGA Tour, joining Se Ri Pak and In Gee Chun.
“I think winning in 2021 [when] I represented the Philippines, I feel like I was able to give back to my mom,” said Saso, who finished at 4-under 276 and collected a record winner’s check of $2.4 million. “This year I was able to represent Japan, and I think I was able to give back to my dad. 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 in the same way.”
Saso earned her fourth victory worldwide since she turned professional in 2019, but her performances of late provided little indication she would be a factor here. She missed the cut at her previous tournament, the Mizuho Americas Open, and finished tied for 29th and 30th in her two starts before that.
But on the sport’s biggest stage, Saso’s second birdie in a row at No. 16 got her to 5 under, three strokes clear of overnight tri-leader Andrea Lee, who had drawn within one shot with four holes to play. Saso closed bogey-par and began the celebration after Andrea Lee, playing in the final pairing with Australia’s Minjee Lee, was unable to rally. Andrea Lee and fellow American Ally Ewing, who posted a final-round 66, shared third place at even-par 280.
“I can be impatient with other things, but I think — I don’t know how to explain it,” Saso said. “Just stay in the moment and trying to focus on every shot, trying to do my routine I think helps me calm down a little bit and be patient.”
Saso claimed the solo lead for good on the heels of birdies at Nos. 12 and 13 to reach 3 under. It was at the 12th not long after where Minjee Lee’s aspirations of a second U.S. Women’s Open title in three years were derailed. Her tee shot on the 163-yard par-3 failed to hold the putting surface and rolled into a stream guarding the front. A double bogey dropped her to even par.
Andrea Lee birdied the 12th to get back into the mix at 2 under following two bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine.
“A lot of positives to take away from the week,” she said. “Being in the last group of a major championship, both the third and fourth rounds, I was extremely nervous, but I feel like I learned a lot about how to control my emotions out here. Definitely a lot of positives to take away.”
The 54-hole leaders — Andrea Lee, Minjee Lee and Thailand’s Wichanee Meechai, who finished tied for sixth at 2 over after a closing 77 — shot a combined 11 over on the front side in overcast but mostly calm conditions until drizzle arrived later in the afternoon.
“I think I did a lot of good things but obviously didn’t play very well today, and I’m disappointed that I didn’t do better,” said Minjee Lee, who is ranked ninth in the world. “Obviously I’m going to acknowledge my disappointment and then come back stronger, take the positives out of the week. … It’s a lot of pressure on the last day, so it wasn’t my best performance, but I’m sure there will be many better performances ahead.”