By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso is slowly regaining her deadly form.
Showing the brilliance that won for herself the 2021 US Women’s Open title, Saso fired a blistering 5-under-par 66 to finish second behind Chinese Ruoning Yin, who she engaged in a thrilling showdown for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship title at the rain-soaked layout in Springfield, New Jersey on Sunday, June 25 (Monday in Manila).
Saso finished with a four-round total of 277 following earlier rounds of 69, 73 and 69 in a four-day work worth $875,130 (around P48.7 million).
It was the best finish for Saso so far since also finishing second in the T-Point Eneos Golf Tournament in the Japan LPGA last March.
In the LPGA scene, Saso’s best performance was sixth at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions last January.
Starting five shots behind third-round leader Leona Maguire, Saso gunned down five birdies in the first 15 holes before encountering a bogey mishap on the 16th, allowing Yin to take command.
Determined to end a string of disappointing finishes, Saso birdied the last hole with an impressive shot from the bunker to match Yin for the lead but the Chinese golfer answered back another with a delicate putt.
After landing her approach shot10 feet from the cup, Yin gently rolled in the tension-packed birdie putt for the victory in the year’s second women’s major tournament.
“After the tee shot I saw Yuka make an incredible birdie here, I knew I had to make birdie at this hole to win the championship and I’m glad I did it,” Yin told AFP.
And she did just that to become the second Chinese to win a major title after Feng Shanshan, who captured the 2012 Women’s PGA crown.
Sharing third with 278 were Carlota Ciganda, who fired an eagle-aided, bogey-free 64, Anna Nordqvist (65), China’s Lin Xiyu, Megan Khang (67), Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow.
