Japan’s Yuka Saso overcame a four-putt opening round to overturn a three-stroke deficit and claim her second U.S. Open title on a dramatic final day at Lancaster Country Club.
Minjee Lee, Wichanee Meechai and Andrea Lee were sharing the lead heading into the final round, but Saso’s chances of catching them were seriously damaged when she birdied the second hole before four-putting for a double bogey on the sixth hole.
But Sasao slumped to five consecutive pars before birdies on the 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes to secure the victory. A final score of 68 gave the 22-year-old Sasao a four-under par victory, three strokes ahead of compatriot Hinako Shibuno.
They were the only two to finish under par. Andrea Lee struggled with a 75 to finish in a tie for third place with fellow American Allie Ewing, who shot a 66 to edge the field.
Meechai fared even worse, finishing with a final round 77, while Minjee Lee struggled with a final round of 78 after 41 strokes. Saso became just the third player in history to win two majors on the LPGA Tour, joining Pak Se-ri and Chun In-gee.
“It feels great,” Sasao said. “I won in 2021 and represented the Philippines. I feel like I was able to repay my mother for all she’s done for me. This year, I was able to represent Japan and repay my father for all he’s done for me. I’m really happy that I was able to do that.”
“It’s just an amazing feeling to be able to give back to my parents in the same way. I haven’t won since 2021, so I think it’s special because I’ve waited so long and I never thought I’d win the U.S. Women’s Open like I did last time.”
“I think I really wanted to win too. Not just to win for the second time, but to prove something to myself. I hadn’t won in two and a half, three years. I was a little nervous about whether I’d be able to win again, or not. But I was able to prove a little something to myself.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre recovered from a shaky start to beat a host of challengers to win his first PGA Tour title at the RBC Canadian Open. MacIntyre closed the final round with a shot of 68 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club to finish at 16 under par, one stroke ahead of local favorite Ben Griffin.
Griffin birdied the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to put him under pressure to match his fellow score, but four straight birdies on the final hole denied him any chance of forcing a playoff, meaning McIntyre two-putted from 10 feet to win and then had the luxury of embracing his father, Dougie, who was called in as a caddie at short notice.
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When asked why he was so emotional about the win, McIntyre, gesturing to his father, told CBS, “Here’s why. Honestly, I’m speechless. This means everything to me and my family, my girlfriend, my team. I can’t believe he did this with him playing catcher. I’m crying with joy, but I’m also laughing because I never thought it would be possible.”
MacIntyre bogeyed the first hole to erase a four-stroke lead he had built up from the previous day in four holes, while Mackenzie Hughes recorded three consecutive birdies early on.
But McIntyre responded brilliantly with birdies on the fourth, seventh and eighth to regain control of the £7.4million tournament before finally getting his wish, despite having to repeatedly ask for a drone being used for the television coverage to be moved.
He birdied again on the 11th hole, then a wild tee shot into a water hazard on the 12th and another bogey on the 13th to give the pursuers an opening, but the Ryder Cup star made a crucial birdie on the 15th to finish with pars on the final three holes.
