Yuka Saso reboots as she targets major wins, Olympics stint

Philippines’ Yuka Saso watches her drive from the 4th tee in round 2 of the women’s golf individual stroke play during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on August 5, 2021. (Photo by YOSHI IWAMOTO / AFP)

The year that passed saw Yuka Saso snag seven Top 10 finishes in 22 Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournaments, a strong season that was highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Women’s PGA last June.

Turning Japanese a couple of years back for reasons of convenience, Saso actually expressed satisfaction at how her season went despite not winning for the second straight year, especially so that she got to play the entire year injury-free.

“I think that’s the most important thing,” said the ICTSI-backed Saso, as she gears up for a shot at another stint in the Olympics, this time for the Land of the Rising Sun.

Her last win on tour came during the US Women’s Open in June 2021, but she still continues to trust the process and believes her time will again come.

“To play in the last tournament of the year and finish in the Top 20 in the money ranking, it’s been a pretty good year,” said Saso, who tied for 23rd in the CME Group Tour Championship. She was also No. 17 in the Race to CME Globe Season.

Ending up ninth in the money list with more than $1.8 million in earnings, Saso is training her sights on playing all four majors this year.

“I just have to keep on practicing. Do what I’ve been doing since I was a kid,” she said. “It’s a process, doing the same thing over and over again.” She will, however, skip the first two LPGA events this month as she gears up for the tournaments that count the most.