Yuka Saso's play-off victory, crowned at the 76th US Women's Open at just 19 years and 8 months old. Saso becomes the first golfer from the Philippines to win in a Major, equaling in history the record of South Korean Inbee Park, winner at the same age in 2008. Céline Herbin in the par, signs a very nice 14th place !

US Women's Open: Yuka Saso celebrated, Céline Herbin 14th

Yuka Saso and Céline Herbin - Photo: DR

Yuka saso spent many hours in the evening watching the game of Rory McIlroy, to model his swing on that of the Northern Irish champion. The four-time major winner said he saw the similarities and was flattered by them. McIlroy also sent Saso an Instagram message ahead of the final round imploring him to get the trophy.

“I saw him this morning, and I was like, 'Ohhh!' ", she said. “I should have reposted it but I was so busy this morning so I'll do it later. I felt really happy. "

This work has paid off and now, Saso is a US Open champion, just like her idol, thanks to a knockout putt after three playoff holes against the Japanese. NASA Hataoka and the collapse of Lexi thompson on the last 9 holes.

“Everyone is going to watch Yuka Saso swing on YouTube from now on. Congratulations! "
greeted Rory MCIlroy on his Twitter account

 

Saso's 3-meter birdie putt on Sunday's third playoff hole put her ahead of Japan's Nasa Hataoka and equaled Inbee Park's historic record by winning the US Women's Open at 19, 11 months and 17 days.

Saso achieved the feat of coming back after two consecutive bogeys early in the round to play the playoffs and become the first player from the Philippines to win a major tournament.

"I was actually a little upset because of those two missed putts"Saso told reporters about his bad start. "But luckily my younger brother told me and that reassured me:" Continue; there are still a lot of holes to play ”. That's what I did. "

The two players pared at No. 9 and 18 in the play-offs, sending the tournament to sudden death on 9. This set the stage for Saso to win just up the road from Daly City. , nicknamed "Little Manila" for its large community of Filipinos.

Many cheered him on for the final round, many with Filipino flags for the occasion.

"I don't know what's going on in the Philippines right now, but I'm just grateful that there are so many people in the Philippines who are cheering me on", she said. “I don't know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone. "

Lexi thompson, who had a five-stroke lead after the eighth hole, played the last seven holes in 5s over par to finish behind with one stroke.

"I didn't hit a bad drive"said Thompson. “The wind just decided otherwise and I have never seen such bad dregs. This is what this course can do. "

Her approach shot in the 18th par 4 ended in the bunker, then she missed a 3-yard putt that would otherwise have qualified her for the play-off.

This left her winless after 15 attempts at the US Women's Open, which she first competed in at the age of 12 in 2007. Thompson was unable to add to her tally a second major after the one she won at ANA Inspiration in 2014.

"It's hard to smile, but it's been an incredible week"said Thompson.

The only other players to finish under par on the Lake Course at Olympic Club were Megan khang et Shanshan feng, which were both at 2 under s.

The amateur junior from high school Megha Ganne played in the final group, making a final card of 77 which completes the podium.

"I will remember it for the rest of my life", said Ganne. "It's all I wanted since I was little".

Céline Herbin held on!

Celine Herbin remained solid at the Olympic Club this Sunday, with one final card in the par for the last round of the 76th edition of the oldest female Major. The native of Avranches offered herself a very nice 14th place final signing her best Grand Slam result, after taking 27, 28 and 28 putts in the first three rounds, the Normande did even better this Sunday, with 24 putts only to finish best putter of the tournament (1,49)!

Céline Boutier, the other Frenchwoman involved in this Major had a much worse Sunday, touching only 9 of the 18 greens in regulation. With seven bogeys for zero birdies, the Parisienne who finally finished 35th in the event at +10 total (294) returned a last card of 78 (+7). “It's hard to finish a major like that, overall my game was pretty good. But we can't afford to miss the fairways on this course, otherwise it can quickly become very expensive… But I appreciated the layout, and the challenge it offered us ”, she commented after her part.

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See the previous article:

US Women's Open: Thompson leader, Boutier and Herbin 16th