The Philippines’ Yuka Saso watches her drive from the 10th tee in round 3 of the women’s golf individual stroke play during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on August 6, 2021. (Photo by YOSHI IWAMOTO / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso returned to No. 8 in the latest women’s world golf rankings.
The Fil-Japanese regained the eighth spot after her solid Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games where she finished inside the top 10.
The reigning US Open champion struggled in the first 18 holes where she started at 47th at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
But made up for it in the final round to salvage a tie for ninth place.
Saso fired a six-under 65 in the final round and ended at 10-under 274.
After briefly climbing to eighth, the 20-year-old entered the Tokyo Games at No. 9 in the rankings. She was No. 40 before her US Open triumph last June.
Coming off a gold medal campaign in Tokyo, Nelly Korda of the United States solidified her standing as world No. 1.