On Tuesday, the USGA announced the groupings for the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach and they are highlighted by LPGA rookie sensation Rose Zhang playing with two former major champions Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson. The threesome drew one of the later tee times for the first round—2:35 p.m. PT, which will put them into all of USA Network’s live coverage for Thursday’s first round. The group tees off at 8:50 a.m. on Friday.

Among the other featured groups:

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, No. 2 Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson.

Sei Young Kim, recent KPMG Women’s PGA Championship winner Ruoning Yin and Megan Khang.

Yuka Saso, the 2021 US Women’s Open champion at Olympic Club, two-time major winner So Yeon Ru, and amateur Anna Davis, the champion of the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

And in the tournament’s most nostalgic group, 52-year-old Annika Sorenstam is paired with Michelle Wie West, who has said this will be her last event, and In Gee Chun.

All times Pacific

7 a.m. / 12:45 p.m. – (a) Kelly Xu, Claremont, Calif.; Haeji Kang, Republic of Korea; Lindy Duncan, Plantation, Fla.

7:11 a.m. / 12:56 p.m. – Miyu Sato, Japan; Jaravee Boonchant, Thailand; Amanda Doherty, Atlanta, Ga.

7:22 a.m. / 1:07 p.m. – Azahara Muñoz, Spain; Amy Olson, Fargo, N.D.; Emma Spitz, Austria

7:33 a.m. / 1:18 p.m. – Na Rin An, Republic of Korea; (a) Benedetta Moresco, Italy; Amy Yang, Republic of Korea

7:44 a.m. / 1:29 p.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Denmark; Hae Ran Ryu, Republic of Korea; (a) Jeneath Wong, Malaysia

7:55 a.m. / 1:40 p.m. – Jenny Shin, Republic of Korea; Jeongeun Lee6, Republic of Korea; Alison Lee, Los Angeles, Calif.

8:06 a.m. / 1:51 p.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand; Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif.; Gaby Lopez, Mexico

8:17 a.m. / 2:02 p.m. – Minjee Lee, Australia; (a) Saki Baba, Japan; Ashleigh Buhai, South Africa

8:28 a.m. / 2:13 p.m. – (a) Amari Avery, Riverside, Calif.; Ally Ewing, Fulton, Miss.; Angel Yin, Arcadia, Calif.

8:39 a.m. / 2:24 p.m. – Lilia Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif.; Danielle Kang, Las Vegas, Nev.; Charley Hull, England

8:50 a.m. / 2:35 p.m. – So Yeon Ryu, Republic of Korea; (a) Anna Davis, Spring Valley, Calif.; Yuka Saso, Japan

9:01 a.m. / 2:46 p.m. – Yuri Yoshida, Japan; Paula Reto, South Africa; Ryann O’Toole, San Clemente, Calif.

9:12 a.m. / 2:57 p.m. – Milagros Chaves, Paraguay; Harukyo Nomura, Japan; Aya Kinoshita, Japan

Thursday (July 6), Hole #1 / Friday (July 7), Hole #10

12:45 p.m. / 7 a.m. – (a) Krissy Carman, Eugene, Ore.; Laura Sluman, Panama; (a) Farah O’Keefe, Austin, Texas

12:56 p.m. / 7:11 a.m. – Ayako Uehara, Japan; Amelia Garvey, New Zealand; Therese Warner, Kennewick, Wash.

1:07 p.m. / 7:22 a.m. – Maria Fassi, Mexico; (a) Grace Summerhays, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Xiaowen Yin, People’s Republic of China

1:18 p.m. / 7:33 a.m. – Alice Hewson, England; Kana Mikashima, Japan; (a) Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, N.C.

1:29 p.m. / 7:44 a.m. – (a) Chizuru Komiya, Japan; Jenny Coleman, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.; Hana Wakimoto, Japan

1:40 p.m. / 7:55 a.m. – (a) Jess Baker, England; Pajaree Anannarukarn, Thailand; Chella Choi, Republic of Korea

1:51 p.m. / 8:06 a.m. – Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif.; Anna Nordqvist, Sweden; Cheyenne Knight, Aledo, Texas

2:02 p.m. / 8:17 a.m. – Madelene Sagstrom, Sweden; Hyo Joo Kim, Republic of Korea; Miyu Yamashita, Japan

2:13 p.m. / 8:28 a.m. – Ayaka Furue, Japan; Hannah Green, Australia; Linn Grant, Sweden

2:24 p.m. / 8:39 a.m. – Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo.; Atthaya Thitikul, Thailand; Leona Maguire, Republic of Ireland

2:35 p.m. / 8:50 a.m. – Brooke Henderson, Canada; Rose Zhang, Irvine, Calif.; Lydia Ko, New Zealand

2:46 p.m. / 9:01 a.m. – Mirim Lee, Republic of Korea; Teresa Toscano Borrero, Spain; (a) Angela Zhang, Bellevue, Wash.

2:57 p.m. / 9:12 a.m. – Brooke Matthews, Rogers, Ark.; (a) Julia Misemer, Overland Park, Kan.; Marissa Chow, Honolulu, Hawaii

Thursday (July 6), Hole #10 / Friday (July 7), Hole #1

7 a.m. / 12:45 p.m. – (a) Sadie Englemann, Austin, Texas; Gabriela Ruffels, Australia; Charlotte Thomas, England

7:11 a.m. / 12:56 p.m. – Bronte Law, England; Grace Kim, Australia; (a) Monet Chun, Canada

7:22 a.m. / 1:07 p.m. – Brittany Lang, Mckinney, Texas; Jill McGill, Denver, Colo.; Angela Stanford, Saginaw, Texas

7:33 a.m. / 1:18 p.m. – Patty Tavatanakit, Thailand; (a) Áine Donegan, Republic of Ireland; Sung Hyun Park, Republic of Korea

7:44 a.m. / 1:29 p.m. – (a) Zoe Campos, Valencia, Calif.; Moriya Jutanugarn, Thailand; Haruka Kawasaki, Japan

7:55 a.m. / 1:40 p.m. – Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif.; Jodi Ewart Shadoff, England; (a) Yana Wilson, Henderson, Nev.

8:06 a.m. / 1:51 p.m. – Sei Young Kim, Republic of Korea; Ruoning Yin, People’s Republic of China; Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass.

8:17 a.m. / 2:02 p.m. – Carlota Ciganda, Spain; Xiyu Lin, People’s Republic of China; Hye-jin Choi, Republic of Korea

8:28 a.m. / 2:13 p.m. – Annika Sorenstam, Sweden; Michelle Wie West, Honolulu, Hawaii; In Gee Chun, Republic of Korea

8:39 a.m. / 2:24 p.m. – Celine Boutier, France; Georgia Hall, England; Nasa Hataoka, Japan

8:50 a.m. / 2:35 p.m. – Jin Young Ko, Republic of Korea; Nelly Korda, Bradenton, Fla.; Lexi Thompson, Delray Beach, Fla.

9:01 a.m. / 2:46 p.m. – Albane Valenzuela, Switzerland; Momoko Ueda, Japan; (a) Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Australia

9:12 a.m. / 2:57 p.m. – Yuna Nishimura, Japan; Pernilla Lindberg, Sweden; Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y.

Thursday (July 6), Hole #10 / Friday (July 7), Hole #1

12:45 p.m. / 7 a.m. – Bailey Tardy, Norcross, Ga.; Dottie Ardina, Philippines; (a) Kaili Xiao, Republic of Korea

12:56 p.m. / 7:11 a.m. – (a) Sarah Edwards, Jay, Fla.; Dewi Weber, Netherlands; Aline Krauter, Germany

1:07 p.m. / 7:22 a.m. – Mackenzie Hahn, Spring Grove, Ill.; (a) Sophie Linder, Carthage, Tenn.; Kumkang Park, Republic of Korea

1:18 p.m. / 7:33 a.m. – Ruixin Liu, People’s Republic of China; Daniela Darquea, Ecuador; (a) Minori Nagano, Japan

1:29 p.m. / 7:44 a.m. – Perrine Delacour, France; (a) Lauren Kim, Canada; Manon De Roey, Belgium

1:40 p.m. / 7:55 a.m. – DaYeon Lee, Republic of Korea; Minami Katsu, Japan; Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, Thailand

1:51 p.m. / 8:06 a.m. – A Lim Kim, Republic of Korea; Hinako Shibuno, Japan; Eun Hee Ji, Republic of Korea

2:02 p.m. / 8:17 a.m. – Allisen Corpuz, Kapolei, Hawaii; Jiyai Shin, Republic of Korea; Marina Alex, Wayne, N.J.

2:13 p.m. / 8:28 a.m. – (a) Tinghsuan Huang, Chinese Taipei; Chisato Iwai, Japan; Minji Park, Republic of Korea

2:24 p.m. / 8:39 a.m. – Mao Saigo, Japan; Maja Stark, Sweden; So Mi Lee, Republic of Korea

2:35 p.m. / 8:50 a.m. – Gemma Dryburgh, Scotland; Aditi Ashok, India; Akie Iwai, Japan

2:46 p.m. / 9:01 a.m. – Beatrice Wallin, Sweden; Joy Chou, Chinese Taipei; (a) Celeste Dao, Canada

2:57 p.m. / 9:12 a.m. – Allysha Mae Mateo, Mililani, Hawaii; Jing Yan, People’s Republic of China; (a) Megan Propeck, Leawood, Kan.

The post Highlights from US Women’s Open tee times: Rose Zhang playing with Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson; Sorenstam and Wie West paired appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Tournament interview schedules are generally a matter of media housekeeping, letting writers and reporters know when a player will speak prior to an event. However, an interview schedule release from the USGA Wednesday broke some news regarding next week’s US Women’s Open.

That’s because, in the 10:30am slot on May 31 at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, one Nelly Korda is scheduled to talk, signalling the former World No. 1’s return to competitive golf.

Korda, 23, has been sidelined since early March after discovering a blood clot and underwent surgery in April to have the clot removed. On May 20 Korda posted an Instagram video of herself hitting balls, but made no mention of a return date.

Korda is coming off a brilliant 2021, winning four LPGA events including her first major at the Women’s PGA Championship, and captured the Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games. Despite the breakthrough at the Women’s PGA, Korda told Golf Digest that the tournament she wants the most is the USGA’s flagship event.

“Any major is a major, but the one that holds a significant meaning to me is the US Open,” Korda told Golf Digest’s Keely Levins.

Korda has played just three times this season, her last appearance coming in early February at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

The 77th US Women’s Open begins June 2. Yuka Saso is the defending champ.

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The post LPGA: Nelly Korda will make her return from a blood clot at the US Women’s Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
For a fresh reminder of where a strong performance in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP) might someday lead, the region’s best players need only rewind to last month’s Dubai Moonlight Classic.

Among the field at the Ladies European Tour event was Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, the winner of the inaugural WAAP in 2018.

Thitikul, who also finished runner-up to Yuka Yasuda in Japan two years ago, has already climbed inside the top 30 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking within a year of turning professional. She also just clinched the Race to Costa Del Sol, the LET Order of Merit, at the Saudi Ladies International.

Need further evidence? How about Filipino Yuka Saso and Thai Patty Tavatanakit, who were tied second and tied 15th respectively in the inaugural WAAP in Singapore, becoming major winners this year. Tavatanakit won the ANA Inspiration in April and 19-year-old Saso was the US Women’s Open champion in June.

All of which makes the 3rd edition of the WAAP, which returns to the international schedule at Abu Dhabi G.C. this week after it was cancelled last year because of pandemic-related restrictions, a tournament to watch.

Organised by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), WAAP has become the most important event in the region with the champion earning places in major two championships – the AIG Women’s Open and the Amundi Evian Championship – as well as an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Among those to keep tabs on during the 72-hole strokeplay event on The National layout are the reigning Korean amateur champion Youmin Hwang, who is ranked 6th in the world, and Chinese players Xiaowen Yin and Lei Ye, ranked 9th and 13th respectively. Alia Al Emadi, Hannah Cheryl Alan, Hamad Alsuwaidi and Natalii Gupta are listed to represent the UAE.

Youmin Hwang. Photo by Korean Golf Association

It will be Hwang’s maiden WAAP appearance but she is well aware of the opportunity it presents. The 19-year-old has been in fine form this year, winning two amateur titles in her home country after an impressive T-4 finish while playing against seasoned professionals in the DB Group Korea Women’s Open in June.

“As a player, you always want to compete against the best players in the world. Playing the WAAP in Abu Dhabi will be an exciting challenge for me. I am looking forward to testing my game on a formidable golf course like Abu Dhabi Golf Club and in foreign conditions,” said Hwang.

“The rewards of winning the championship are incredible. To be able to play two major championships and have a possibility of playing a round at Augusta National Golf Club, I know every player will try extra hard to finish on top of the leaderboard.”

Yin has been in outstanding form ever since golf made a comeback in China following the first COVID-19 lockdown last year. Since August 2020, she has played 13 events and won eight of them, including three professional titles on the China LPGA Tour).  Her worst finish has been 9th place in a professional tournament on August 20. Last year.

“I was fortunate to be part of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2019 and I did well to finish tied 12th in Japan,” said Yin. “However, I know I am a much better all-round player now and it would be amazing if I can add to my victories in Abu Dhabi.”

[divider] [/divider]

What: 3rd Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship
Where: Abu Dhabi Golf Club
When: Nov. 10-13

The post Why the WAAP at Abu Dhabi G.C. this week is a likely barometer of professional things to come appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

As was the case with the men’s Olympic competition, International Golf Federation officials have appropriately given the honour of hitting the opening tee shot of the 2021 Olympic women’s golf tournament to a native of the host country.

Japan’s Mone Inami will be the first player off when the women’s event begins on Wednesday at Kasumigaseki Country Club at 7:30 a.m. local time (6:30 p.m. eastern time Wednesday in the U.S.). Inami will be playing in the threesome with Maria Fassi of Mexico and Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland. (Side note: You might recall that Sepp Straka was in the opening pairing of the men’s tournament and shot a 63 to take the early lead last week.)

There are several interesting pairings to follow, most notably the threesome of Inbee Park, Lydia Ko and Shanshan Feng that tees off on Day 1 at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday night U.S. time. The trio from South Korea, New Zealand and China won gold, silver and bronze at the 2016 Rio Games.

As for the four Americans competing in the women’s event, World No. 1 Nelly Korda tees off at 7:14 p.m. Wednesday night U.S. time (paired with Nasa Hataoka and Jin Young Ko), with Lexi Thompson following her at 7:25 p.m. (with Brooke Henderson and U.S. Women’s Open champ Yuka Saso). Jessica Korda tees off at 9:03 p.m. and Danielle Kang has a 9:36 p.m. tee time.

ANA Inspiration winner Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and Amundi Evian Championship winner Minjee Lee of Australia are paired together along with 2020 AIG Women’s British Open winner Sophia Popov. They tee off at 9:14 p.m. Tuesday in the U.S.

Here are all the first and second round tee times at Kasumigaseki Country Club:

ROUND 1
First Tee

7:30 a.m./6:30 p.m.
Mone INAMI, Japan
Maria FASSI, Mexico
Albane VALENZUELA, Switzerland

7:41 a.m./6:41 p.m.
Kelly TAN, Malaysia
Alena SHARP, Canada
Anne VAN DAM, The Netherlands

7:52 a.m./6:52 p.m.
Leona MAGUIRE, Ireland
Bianca PAGDANGANAN, Philippines
Matilda CASTREN, Finland

8:03 a.m./7:03 p.m.
Mel REID, Great Britain
Caroline MASSON, Germany
Anna NORDQVIST, Sweden

8:14 a.m./7:14 p.m.
Nasa HATAOKA, Japan
Jin Young KO, South Korea
Nelly KORDA, USA

8:25 a.m./7:25 p.m.
Brooke HENDERSON, Canada
Lexi THOMPSON, USA
Yuka SASO, Philippines

8:41 a.m./7:41 p.m.
Inbee PARK, South Korea
Lydia KO, New Zealand
Shanshan FENG, China

8:52 a.m./7:52 p.m.
Sanna NUUTINEN, Finland
Maria TORRES, Puerto Rico
Tiffany CHAN, Hong Kong

9:03 a.m./8:03 p.m.
Klara SPILKOVA, Czech Republic
Manon DE ROEY, Belgium
Christine WOLF, Austria

9:14 a.m./8:14 p.m.
Maha HADDIOUI, Morocco
Lucrezia COLOMBOTTO ROSSO, Italy
Daniela DARQUEA, Ecuador

9:25 a.m./8:25 p.m.
Nanna KOERSTZ MADSEN, Denmark
Aditi ASHOK, India
Giulia MOLINARO, Italy

9:36 a.m./8:36 p.m.
Wei-Ling HSU, Chinese Taipei
Azahara MUNOZ, Spain
Jodi EWART SHADOFF, Great Britain

9:47 a.m./8:47 p.m.
Xiyu LIN, China
Emily Kristine PEDERSEN, Denmark
Madelene SAGSTROM, Sweden

10:03 a.m./9:03 p.m.
Jessica KORDA, USA
Celine BOUTIER, France
Gaby LOPEZ, Mexico Gaby Mexico

10:14 a.m./9:14 p.m.
Minjee LEE, Australia
Patty TAVATANAKIT, Thailand
Sophia POPOV, Germany

10:25 a.m./9:25 p.m.
Ariya JUTANUGARN, Thailand
Hyojoo KIM, South Korea
Carlota CIGANDA, Spain

10:36 a.m./9:36 p.m.
Danielle KANG, USA
Hannah GREEN, Australia
Sei Young KIM, South Korea

10:47 a.m./9:47 p.m.
Min LEE, Chinese Taipei
Stephanie MEADOW, Ireland
Perrine DELACOUR, France

10:58 a.m./9:58 p.m.
Mariajo URIBE, Colombia
Pia BABNIK, Slovenia
Magdalena SIMMERMACHER, Argentina

11:09 a.m./10:09 p.m.
Diksha DAGAR, India
Kim METRAUX, Switzerland
Tonje DAFFINRUD, Norway

ROUND 2
First Tee

7:30 a.m./6:30 p.m.
Nanna KOERSTZ MADSEN, Denmark
Aditi ASHOK, India
Giulia MOLINARO, Italy

7:41 a.m./6:41 p.m.
Wei-Ling HSU, Chinese Taipei
Azahara MUNOZ, Spain
Jodi EWART SHADOFF, Great Britain

7:52 a.m./6:52 p.m.
Xiyu LIN, China
Emily Kristine PEDERSEN, Denmark
Madelene SAGSTROM, Sweden

8:03 a.m./7:03 p.m.
Jessica KORDA, USA
Celine BOUTIER, France
Gaby LOPEZ, Mexico Gaby Mexico

8:14 a.m./7:14 p.m.
Minjee LEE, Australia
Patty TAVATANAKIT, Thailand
Sophia POPOV, Germany

8:25 a.m./7:25 p.m.
Ariya JUTANUGARN, Thailand
Hyojoo KIM, South Korea
Carlota CIGANDA, Spain

8:41 a.m./7:41 p.m.
Danielle KANG, USA
Hannah GREEN, Australia
Sei Young KIM, South Korea

8:52 a.m./7:52 p.m.
Min LEE, Chinese Taipei
Stephanie MEADOW, Ireland
Perrine DELACOUR, France

9:03 a.m./8:03 p.m.
Mariajo URIBE, Colombia
Pia BABNIK, Slovenia
Magdalena SIMMERMACHER, Argentina

9:14 a.m./8:14 p.m.
Diksha DAGAR, India
Kim METRAUX, Switzerland
Tonje DAFFINRUD, Norway

9:25 a.m./8:25 p.m.
Mone INAMI, Japan
Maria FASSI, Mexico
Albane VALENZUELA, Switzerland

9:36 a.m./8:36 p.m.
Kelly TAN, Malaysia
Alena SHARP, Canada
Anne VAN DAM, The Netherlands

9:47 a.m./8:47 p.m.
Leona MAGUIRE, Ireland
Bianca PAGDANGANAN, Philippines
Matilda CASTREN, Finland

10:03 a.m./9:03 p.m.
Mel REID, Great Britain
Caroline MASSON, Germany
Anna NORDQVIST, Sweden

10:14 a.m./9:14 p.m.
Nasa HATAOKA, Japan
Jin Young KO, South Korea
Nelly KORDA, USA

10:25 a.m./9:25 p.m.
Brooke HENDERSON, Canada
Lexi THOMPSON, USA
Yuka SASO, Philippines

10:36 a.m./9:36 p.m.
Inbee PARK, South Korea
Lydia KO, New Zealand
Shanshan FENG, China

10:47 a.m./9:47 p.m.
Sanna NUUTINEN, Finland
Maria TORRES, Puerto Rico
Tiffany CHAN, Hong Kong

10:58 a.m./9:58 p.m.
Klara SPILKOVA, Czech Republic
Manon DE ROEY, Belgium
Christine WOLF, Austria

11:09 a.m./10:09 p.m.
Maha HADDIOUI, Morocco
Lucrezia COLOMBOTTO ROSSO, Italy
Daniela DARQUEA, Ecuador

The post Tokyo Olympics women’s tee times: Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Tod Leonard
SAN DIEGO—Yuka Saso stood out just a wee bit on Tuesday at Torrey Pines. It was hard to miss her, this diminutive young woman carrying around a huge silver trophy, the sun brightly reflecting off it. We’re not talking about a lap around the clubhouse, either. The 19-year-old Saso carried it everywhere, including out on the South Course, like a fan with the biggest piece of bling you can imagine.

The reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion, who won the title at Olympic Club in San Francisco less than two weeks ago, was a guest of the USGA at Torrey Pines, where the U.S. Open begins on Thursday. And Saso was on a mission: She wanted to meet Rory McIlroy, whom she has idolized since her early teen years. Through YouTube, she learned to copy McIlroy’s swing, but she had never come close to meeting the four-time major champion.

There was a bit of staging that took place as Saso caught up to McIlroy on the South’s seventh hole, but the reaction was endearing and genuine. McIlroy greeted Saso with smiles and hugs, and she joined him inside the ropes over the next three holes.

“When I finally saw him, I said, ‘That’s Rory! That’s the real Rory I’ve been watching on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, and now I’m seeing him in person,” Saso recalled later for Golf Digest as she sat in the media dining area with her father and the trophy.

“It’s like a dream. It was much better than I was thinking.”

Saso actually took her reaction to the experience a step farther. “It is the greatest moment of my life,” she said.

Greater than winning the U.S. Women’s Open?

Saso’s eyes crinkled behind her safety mask, and she moved her hand like a scale.

“Fifty-fifty,” she said with a laugh.

The distant runner-up on the day was meeting and trading fist bumps with Phil Mickelson.

“I saw Phil activating his calves,” Saso said.

Chris Keane
With her U.S. Women’s Open trophy by her side, Yuka Saso talks to Rory McIlroy.

Saso said she didn’t want to pepper McIlroy with a lot of questions because she knew he was working on his prep for a major, but she asked him about certain shots and they chatted about various subjects, and she hopes to be able to get more of his advice in the future.

“He’s a really good person,” she said. “He’s had his ups and down, but whatever happens, he looks forward. He’s a very honest guy.”

Saso stunned the golf world with her victory at Olympic Club, becoming the first person of Filipino heritage to win a major. She triumphed in a playoff over Nasa Hataoka after both finished 72 holes at four under, and she joined Inbee Park as the youngest-ever winner of the U.S. Women’s Open. Saso was playing in her third U.S. Women’s Open and had notched to wins on the LPGA Tour of Japan.

The victory earned Saso an immediate invitation to join the LPGA and she accepted. Her next start will come in another major, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Georgia next week.

Saso admitted that she never thought she’d win a major so soon, and that she was only looking for more experience at Olympic Club. “I think I’m still in the learning stage. I’m still 19,” she said. “I know I won the U.S. Women’s Open, but there are so many players who have more experience than I do. So I’m hoping that I can learn more on the LPGA too, and get to where I want to be.”

On this day, where she wanted to be was anywhere near Rory McIlroy.

The post Yuka Saso compares meeting Rory McIlroy to winning her first major appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

But golf is golf, and nothing is guaranteed. Thompson stumbled coming home, making three bogeys and a double to post a back-nine 41 and add to her list of major heartbreak.

Meanwhile, Saso hung tough, posting a two-over 73 that was good enough to get into a playoff with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka at four-under 280 total. Then after making pars on the first two playoff holes, Saso rolled in an eight-footer for birdie on the third to walk away the surprise champion.

Surprise at least to golf fans outside the Philippines.

“There’s always that one player who stands out, and the rest will follow. That’s what she’s doing,” said LPGA Tour pro player Bianca Pagdanganan, a fellow Filipino. “We’ve had a couple players before [on the LPGA Tour], we had Dorothy Delasin, we got Jennifer Rosales. It’s been awhile. Yuka is a very young player. I think it was definitely, it means a lot especially with how old she is. It’s very, very special and she’s definitely someone to look up to.”

In case you’re just watching Saso for the first time this week, here are nine things you need to know about the new U.S. Women’s Open champion.

1: She’s the first major champion from the Philippines

It was 8 a.m. local time on Monday in the Philippines when Saso won the playoff to claim the title, her first LPGA Tour victory. You can rightfully say that Saso raised a new dawn for the game of golf in her home country. “I’m just thankful that there’s so many people in the Philippines cheering for me,” Saso said. “I don’t know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone.”

Interestingly, too, San Francisco has one of the largest Filipina populations of any city in the U.S., with Saso attracting an impressive following during her week at Olympic Club.

Pagdanganan wasn’t in the field at Olympic Club but is playing in next week’s LPGA stop in San Francisco and arrived at Olympic Club on Sunday to watch Saso starting on the fifth hole.

“I think it’s not only good for her, but I think it’s good for the Philippines,” Pagdanganan said. “She put us on the radar. What she did was absolutely a great thing, not only for golf but for our country.”

• • •

2: She tied Inbee Park for the youngest U.S. Women’s Open winner (yes, actually tied)

Fate is a strange thing. Saso turned 19 years, 11 months and 17 days old on Sunday. That is the exact same age that Park broke through and won the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen Country Club.

Yuka Saso reacts after being doused with water following her win of the 76th U.S. Women’s Open. Ezra Shaw

• • •

3: She’s the first player to be eligible for full LPGA Tour membership under the newly created “Popov Rule”

Prior to this year, winning a major gave the champion a five-year exemption on the LPGA Tour … provided the winner already was an LPGA member. If she isn’t, as was the case with Sophia Popov when she won the AIG Women’s Open last August, that exemption shrank to only two years. It was a rule that didn’t seem all that fair to some, and came into play again when A Lim Kim won the U.S. Women’s Open last December as a non-member. During the off-season, the LPGA reviewed the rule and changed it to allow members or non-members alike to get the full five years.

Interestingly, Saso was initially non-committal about whether she’d play full time on the LPGA Tour. “I’m going to talk to my dad, my family about it, and we are going to decide after,” Saso said in the immediate aftermath of the playoff win.

Hannah Green, who’s known Saso since their amateur days six or seven years ago, wants her friend to join the LPGA. “She’s fit for major championships,” Green said. “This is probably the toughest golf course we’re ever going to play. Obviously, it’s huge for her confidence. I hope she joins the tour.”

Shortly thereafter, Saso deliberated with her family, as she accepted membership just after 6 P.M. Sunday.

• • •

4: She is just the second Filipino to win an LPGA Tour event

The first was Jennifer Rosales, who won the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship in 2004 and then the SBS Open at Turtle Bay in 2005.

MORE: Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at Olympic Club

• • •

5: She’s only two years removed from winning the Junior PGA Championship.

She is, after all, still a teenager.

Just two years ago I presented @SasoYuka_315 the @JuniorPGAChamp trophy! Today she lifted the @uswomensopen trophy. WOW!! Congratulations Yuka!!! pic.twitter.com/ajjlDqJtDj

— Suzy Whaley (@suzywhaley) June 7, 2021

• • •

6: She won a gold medal as an individual and as part of the Women’s Team at the 2018 Asian Games with Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go

Pagdanganan’s familiarity with Saso’s game made her know the teenager could launch a comeback after falling behind early at Olympic Club. When Pagdanganan found Saso on Sunday, Saso mouthed “Oh my god!” to Pagdananan, gave her a fist bump, and said hi. Saso’s teammate had complete confidence in her to make a move Sunday.

“That’s just who Yuka is,” Pagdanganan said. “Yuka is very resilient. I knew she was going to make a late charge, that’s just who she is as a player. She’s very, very talented. I didn’t expect anything less from her.”

• • •

7: This was only Saso’s seventh start on the LPGA Tour

Of Saso’s seven, three have come in the U.S. Women’s Open. She missed the cut in 2019 and finished T-13 in 2020.

• • •

8: This is Saso’s third professional win anywhere

Saso won twice in back-to-back events on the Japan LPGA Tour in 2020, winning the NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament and Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament in August last year.

• • •

9: She modelled her swing after Rory McIlroy

During Friday’s broadcast on the Golf Channel, they showed a side-by-side comparison of McIlroy and Saso’s swing, the two looking frighteningly similar. That’s because Saso has spent hours watching McIlroy’s swing on YouTube and mirror her’s after his.

??? pic.twitter.com/P7yWiR3URQ

— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) June 5, 2021

After this revelation made it on air, a flattered McIlroy responded that he hoped Saso would play well and win the championship. Saso acknowledges her idol during her post-victory speech.

RELATED: Yuka Saso hat-tipping Rory McIlroy in her post-victory interview is extremely wholesome content

The post Who is Yuka Saso? 9 things you need to know about the new U.S. Women’s Open champion appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Then, in the privacy of the scoring tent, reality arrived. The talented American had just squandered a five-shot lead in the final round by shooting a numbing 41 on the back nine, and with a bogey at 17 followed by another on the devious little monster that is the Lake Course’s 18th hole, Thompson capped a four-over-par 75 that left her one shot out of a playoff won in three holes by Yuka Saso over Japan’s Nasa Hataoka.

Saso’s first major triumph is an enormous achievement, with the 19-year-old of Filipino and Japanese heritage tying Inbee Park to the day as the youngest winner in the U.S. Women’s Open history. Saso, who has two wins on the LPGA of Japan and immediately accepted membership to the LPGA Tour after Sunday’s triumph, was gritty in fighting back from back-to-back double bogeys on the second and third holes. She steadied herself and made birdies on the back nine’s two par 5s, 16 and 17, to shoot 71 and tie Hataoka (68) at four-under 280 overall.

Only three years ago, Saso played in the ANA Inspiration junior tournament and waited in line to get Thompson’s autograph. Now, she’s part of yet another crushing setback for the 26-year-old whose only major win in 52 tries came seven years ago.

RELATED: Who is Yuka Saso? 9 things you need to know about the new U.S. Women’s Open champion

As the playoff started, Thompson signed her scorecard and tried to gather herself. She emerged once, thinking she was ready to speak, but went back inside again. She skipped talking to the USGA’s broadcast partner, NBC, and instead went straight to the interview area. There, her eyes red and glassy, an impressively composed Thompson answered one question from a USGA media official and two others from reporters. Then, at the behest of her agent, she was whisked away.

Last seen, Thompson was being taken to a destination unknown, the cart driven by USGA player liaison Jason Gore.

“Yeah, of course it’s hard to smile, but, I mean, it was an amazing week,” Thompson said. “Yeah, I played not so good today with a few of the bogeys coming in on the back nine, but the fans were unbelievable, hearing the chants and just gives me a reason to play.”

This was to be a huge moment for Thompson—and for American golf. She has long been one of the domestic game’s most recognizable and popular stars, and her 11 LPGA Tour wins made her worthy of admiration. For Thompson to capture the U.S. Women’s Open, on a layout deeply wound in the USGA’s DNA, and to overcome her own travails, well, it could have been one of those U.S. sporting stories that are remembered for lifetimes.

But the majors have been Thompson’s nearly impenetrable castle. She now has eight top-three finishes, and it will be debated which is more painful—the 2017 loss in the ANA Inspiration when she was defeated in a playoff after being smacked with a four-stroke penalty for marking her ball incorrectly, or this collapse at Olympic Club with seemingly one hand on the trophy.

Lexi Thompson walks off the 18th hole with her caddie following the final round of the 76th U.S. Women’s Open. Ezra Shaw

Certainly, this was a more visceral undoing. Thompson looked sharp and composed in shooting one under on the front nine to forge a five-shot lead when everyone else seemed to be folding around her. As it happened, the birdie she made at the par-4 fifth would be her last.

The trouble started on the par-4 11th, when Thompson missed the fairway and slashed out to well short of the green with her second shot. There, maybe the nerves began to show, when she chunked her wedge and didn’t make the green. She came up well short of the hole with her fourth shot and missed the five-foot putt for bogey, settling instead for a double. Still, she had a three-shot lead.

But Thompson appeared to lose almost all feel from there. She missed all but two of the remaining fairways on the back nine, left her tee shot on the par-3 15th at least a club short, and at 17 and 18, with makeable putts to save par, Thompson’s weak rolls couldn’t get to the hole.

The effort at 18 came after Thompson striped an iron off the tee into the middle of the fairway. But her approach to the front pin came up short in the front bunker so deep only the top of her head could be seen from the back of the green.

Reporters didn’t get to ask Thompson about the 18th hole, but she said, “Just got the wind wrong on a few shots coming in.

“Overall,” she said, “I’d be the first one to tell you that I hit some bad golf shots and I deserved it, but it’s golf.”

As Thompson was faltering, Saso and Hataoka were charging. Saso only made three birdies in the round, but two came critically at 16 and 17. She had begun the round horribly, pitching out sideways after a wayward drive at No. 2 in making a double bogey, followed by a three-putt double at the par-3 third after her tee shot found the left bunker.

Hataoka, 22, who was trying to win her first major and continue an impressive run of play for Japanese golfers after Tsubasa Kajitani’s win at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and Hideki Matsuyama’s Masters victory, recorded five birdies, including those on a par-3 (No. 13), par-4 (14) and par-5 (16).

Sean M. Haffey

The USGA has a two-hole playoff system, and after the players traded pars while playing the ninth and 18th holes, Saso seized the win by making an eight-foot birdie in the return to No. 9.

Lost somewhat in the American disappointment for Thompson were the cheers from Filipinos, who waved flags for Saso throughout the round. It’s the first victory by a Filipino, male or female, in any golf major.

“I don’t know what’s happening in the Philippines right now, but I’m just thankful that there’s so many people in the Philippines cheering for me,” Saso said. “I don’t know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone.”

With her tumble at Olympic Club, Thompson put herself into the company of one of the gods of the game. In 1966 on the Lake Course, Arnold Palmer squandered a seven-shot lead on the back nine, and Billy Casper made three birdies late to catch him and steal one.

Palmer was devasted, to be sure, but the wounds were salved by the seven majors he’d already won. Thompson figures to have at least a decade more of trying, but with each passing tough loss, it’s hard to keep smiling.

The post A surreal back nine at the U.S. Women’s Open leaves Yuka Saso a major champ and Lexi Thompson heartbroken again appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Christopher Powers
Yuka Saso and Rory McIlroy were playing golf on opposite sides of the country on Sunday. But thanks to the power of social media, these two are now intertwined forever.

On Friday night, while Saso was shooting a four-under 67 to grab the solo 36-hole lead at the U.S. Women’s Open, the broadcast played a side-by-side video of the 19-year-old’s swing and the swing of McIlroy. The moves were eerily similar, which made sense given Saso modelled her swing after the four-time major champion’s:

??? pic.twitter.com/P7yWiR3URQ

— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) June 5, 2021

“Everything, I like everything about it,” said Saso of Rory’s swing, which she has studied on YouTube. Considering his career record, there are definitely worse swings to model yours after.

The results are in—it’s working. Saso won the Women’s Open on Sunday at Olympic Club, defeating Nasa Hataoka on the third playoff hole, the first of sudden death.

McIlroy, who tied for 18th at the Memorial, caught wind of the side-by-side video on Saturday night and posted this to his Instagram story:

Pretty cool stuff for Saso, who was even watching McIlroy’s swing on Thursday night after opening with a two-under 69. “The last time I watched it was the Masters,” she said. “I was just watching his golf and swing for like one hour, maybe more.” McIlroy, never afraid to poke fun at himself, said he was “hardly [at the Masters] for an hour” when he was told of Saso’s routine on Saturday at Muirfield Village.

In her post-victory interview, Saso made sure to give McIlroy a nice hat tip, which will warm your heart:

"Rory mentioned me on Instagram and said, 'Get that trophy.'

And I did!

So thank you, Rory." pic.twitter.com/G3pqLCSxle

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 6, 2021

McIlroy quickly responded on Twitter, saying “Everyone is going to be watching Yuka Saso swing videos on YouTube now. Congratulations!” Amen to that. Good, wholesome content right here, folks. Want it, need more of it.

The post Yuka Saso hat-tipping Rory McIlroy in her post-victory interview is extremely wholesome content appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Mid-way through the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open, eventual winner Yuka Saso probably couldn’t have imagined she would be the one holding the trophy. She’d made two double bogeys on the front nine at The Olympic Club and was playing in the final threesome with Lexi Thompson, who held a five-stroke lead with eight holes to play.

But golf is golf, and nothing is guaranteed. Thompson stumbled coming home, making three bogeys and a double to post a closing 75 and finish third, adding to her list of major disappointments. Meanwhile, Saso hung tough, posting a two-over 73 that was good enough to get in a playoff with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka at four-under 280 total. Then after making two pars in the two-hole aggregate playoff, the 19-year-old from the Philippines rolled in an eight-footer for birdie to tie Inbee Park as the youngest winner in the history of the championship.

With the victory, Saso became an instant millionaire. The USGA awarded an overall prize money payout of $5.5 million this week at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, with the Saso earning a seven-digit payday.

Only one women’s tournament offers a larger first-place prize, the CME Group Tour Championship. In 2019, winner Sei Young Kim received $1.5 million from an overall purse of $5 million. The event changed its structure slightly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Jin Young Ko earning $1.1 million from an overall purse of $3 million.

Here’s a look at the overall purses for the other four women’s major:
AIG Women’s British Open: $4,500,000 (winner: $675,000)
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: $4,500,000 in 2021 (winner: $675,000)
Evian Championship: $4,500,000 (winner: $675,000)
ANA Inspiration: $3,100,000 (winner: $465,000)

And here are the prize money payouts for each professional golfer who made the cut this week in San Francisco. Any money an amateur would make is re-distributed to the other professionals in the field.

MORE: Who is Yuka Saso? 9 things you need to know about the new U.S. Women’s Open champion

Win: Yuka Saso, -4, $1,000,000

P-2: Nasa Hataoka, -4, $594,000

3: Lexi Thompson, -3, $380,572

T4: Megan Khang, -2, $245,394

T4: Shanshan Feng, -2, $245,394

6: Angel Yin, E, $197,751

T7: Xiyu Lin, +1, $147,265

T7: Jin Young Ko, +1, $147,265

T7: Ariya Jutanugarn, +1, $147,265

T7: Brooke Henderson, +1, $147,265

T7: Inbee Park, +1, $147,265

T12: Amy Olson, +2, $108,180

T12: Jeongeun Lee6, +2, $108,180

T14: Celine Herbin, +3, $96,319

T14: Megha Ganne, +3, amateur

T16: Alison Lee, +4,$84,066

T16,Sei Young Kim, +4,$84,066

T16,Lucy Li, +4,$84,066

T16,Maja Stark., +4, amateur

T20: Madelene Sagstrom, +5, $72,197

T20: Hyojoo Kim, +5, $72,197

22: So Yeon Ryu, +6, $65,304

T23: Lizette Salas, +7, $57,416

T23: Emily Kristine Pedersen, +7, $57,416

T23: Jenny Shin, +7, $57,416

T26: Patty Tavatanakit, +8, $45,819

T26: Jennifer Kupcho, +8, $45,819

T26: In-Kyung Kim, +8, $45,819

T26: Marina Alex, +8, $45,819

T30: Jessica Korda, +9, $36,988

T30: Mina Harigae, +9, $36,988

T30: Matilda Castren, +9, $36,988

T30: Wichanee Meechai, +9, $36,988

T30: Lauren Stephenson, +9, $36,988

T35: Danielle Kang, +10, $29,074

T35: Jasmine Suwannapura, +10, $29,074

T35: Maria Parra, +10, $29,074

T35: Lydia Ko, +10, $29,074

T35: Rachel Heck, +10, Amateur

T35: Celine Boutier, +10, $29,074

T41: In Gee Chun, +11, $23,089

T41: Ally Ewing, +11, $23,089

T41: Ayako Uehara, +11, $23,089

T41: Stacy Lewis, +11, $23,089

T41: Gaby Lopez, +11, $23,089

T46: Mel Reid, +12, $18,494

T46: Brittany Altomare, +12, $18,494

T46: Yu Liu, +12, $18,494

T49: Leonie Harm, +13, $14,554

T49: Jenny Coleman, +13, $14,554

T49: Pernilla Lindberg, +13, $14,554

T49: Anna Nordqvist, +13, $14,554

T49: Carlota Ciganda, +13, $14,554

T54: Amy Yang, +14, $12,540

T54: Na Yeon Choi, +14, $12,540

T54: Minjee Lee, +14, $12,540

T57: Sarah Burnham, +15, $12,004

T57: Muni He, +15, $12,004

T57: Luna Sobron Galmes, +15, $12,004

T57: Austin Ernst, +15, $12,004

61: Giulia Molinaro,+16, $11,716

T62: Pajaree Anannarukarn, +17, $11,545

T62: Hannah Green, +17, $11,545

T64: Yealimi Noh, +18, $11,307

T64: Lee-Anne Pace,+18, $11,307

66: Gurleen Kaur, +21, Amateur

All 63 professionals who missed the cut receive $4,000 in unofficial prize money.

The post Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at Olympic Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.