The CME Group Tour Championship last November 18 was the last time Yuka Saso would represent the Philippines in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
When the 2022 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions takes place later this week at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida, Saso will be carrying the Japanese flag beside her name.
This came as a surprise, as many thought that Saso would still represent the country until June 20, 2022 when she turns 22 years of age. However, that is not the case.
With this, Saso can no longer represent the country in multisport events as well.
Still, Saso had a stellar run for Team Pilipinas over the past four years.
Back in the 2018 Asian Games, the San Ildefonso, Bulacan-born golfer won two gold medals in the continental meet.
She would then make history in 2021 by becoming the first-ever Filipino to win a major when she took down the U.S. Women’s Open.
Photo by Joseph Beck/USGA
Saso would then finish in t-9th during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Photo from 2020 Tokyo Olympics
So far, Saso has career earnings of $1,517,876.
Despite no longer carrying the Philippine flag, Saso will forever be proud of her heritage.
“I am a Filipina, born in the Philippines to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother. I was raised in both Japan and the Philippines and I am immensely proud of my dual heritage and that will never change.”
