FOR Yuka Saso, winning an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and having the US Women’s Open title tucked in her belt are, in context, apples and oranges.
“First, it doesn’t mean that [because] I won this [US Women’s Open], I can win a gold in the Olympics,” the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)-backed Saso said. “I still have a lot of work to do.”
Saso trailed by five strokes with few holes left in the final round of the US Open on Sunday but, thanks to Lexi Thompson’s backside collapse, she clawed back in stunning fashion and topped one of the five majors in women’s golf.
That conquest did not only catapult the Filipino-Japanese 13 rungs up to world No. 9, but also made her the first Filipino—male or female—to win a major golf championship. She, too, was one of the youngest to rule a major at 19.
Saso will be facing practically the same field she stunned at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, including nine in the top 10 of the current Olympic rankings, but she prefers to be wary of her chances for the gold medal.
She was quick to temper down expectations.
“There’s a lot of tournaments coming up, so, I have to get back to work and focus on my next tournament and we’ll see what’s going to happen in the Olympics,” she said.
Saso and fellow golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Juvic Pagunsan in men’s play are already assured of playing in Tokyo by virtue of their world rankings. Pagdanganan is No. 41 and Pagunsan is No. 50 in the world rankings.
The official announcement for the qualifiers in Olympic golf will be made on or after June 22.
The top 60 golfers in the men and women divisions will qualify for the Olympics.
“All three of them have a very real chance of podium finishes,” National Golf Association of the Philippines secretary general Bones Floro said. “Medals are within their reach.”
Not even golf’s venue in Tokyo—the Kasumigaseki Golf Club in Saitama which is relatively familiar to Saso—could bend Saso into counting chicks before the eggs are broken.
But she gave a peek of what’s on her mind.
“This [US Open win] is just the start. I think it’s really a good win,” she said. “But it doesn’t stop here so I hope we can get more.”
With Tokyo hosting the Olympics from July 23 to August 8—golf starts on August 4—Saso, and perhaps with the Japanese led by world No. 10 and Nasa Hataoka, who Saso beat in the playoff at the Olympic Club—could be enjoying a “home-court” advantage.
Saso stressed several factors will determine the result in Tokyo, adding she needs to toughen up and be at her top form in the Olympics. She will face the same elite cast again in the Women’s PGA Championship set from June 24 to 27 at the Highlands Course in Atlanta.
Also on the women’s majors list besides the US Open and PGA Championship are the ANA Inspiration, Ricoh Women’s British Open and the Evian Masters.
Still reeling from that Women’s US Open win, Saso started to pave the way for big things to come that leads to her dream—and every Filipinos, too—of becoming world No. 1 and an Olympic gold medalist.
Saso’s long-time supporter, ICTSI, headed by Chairman and CEO Enrique K. Razon, was all praises for her.
“Her ICTSI family thanks Yuka for the pride and joy she gives the country. We commend her for her hard work, perseverance and dedication to training, and most especially for remaining humble despite her recent successes,” the ICTSI said in a statement.
“She is and will continue to be a role model for the golfing community. May she also serve as an inspiration to our Filipino athletes in breaking through internationally,” the statement added. “ICTSI will continue supporting Yuka in her golfing career, and we look forward to more victories.”
Besides Saso, Pagdanganan and Pagunsan, also Tokyo Olympics-bound are gymnast Carlos Yulo, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ann Ando, pole vault’s EJ Obiena, rower Cris Nievarez, jin Kurt Barbosa, skateboarder Margie Didal and boxers Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, Irish Magno and Nesthy Petecio.
The Philippines started participating in the Olympics in Paris 1924 and managed three silver and seven bronze for a total of 10 medals. No gold.
YUKA: FEET ON THE GROUND
YUKA SASO is the newest golf star in the world, in Asia and most specially in the Philippines. But deep in her heart and mind, she remains the Yuka Saso those close to her have known.
Saso, according to National Golf Association of the Philippines secretary general Bones Floro, is that typically shy teenager who gets star-struck during certain occasions.
And Vice Ganda, one of the popular comedian-hosts in the country, got Saso star-struck once.
Floro narrated that in a half-time ceremony in a Philippine Basketball Association game in 2018 when Saso and the other Jakarta Asian Games gold medalists were recognized, she asked that she be photographed with Vice Ganda.
“I readily obliged,” Floro said. “And when several PBA players asked for a photo with her, she was very accommodating but still showed how shy she was.”
Floro said Saso is a simple, happy and generous young woman who loves K-Pop and follows Marvel Comics characters.
“She’s no prima donna, that’s for sure, despite her celebrity status as the country’s fast-rising global women golfer,” Floro said. “Yuka remains the person that she is—selfless, considerate, humble and generous.”
Saso likes Korean girl groups Twice and Blackpink—but isn’t exactly an absolute BTS fan. She also loves Sam Smith and Daniel Padilla, and her favorite films are Lucy, Transformers, The Avengers, Batman and Spiderman.
“She is just an ordinary kid who loves cartoons,” Floro said. “She is a very happy and positive person, a very sweet girl.”