Yuka Saso will touch base with relatives, backers, and friends in Manila later this month, hoping to draw inspiration and motivation as she gears up for the resumption of her LPGA campaign in Singapore and Thailand in March.
Saso ended a run of final round appearance in her last 22 tournaments, including six on the LPGA of Japan Tour, in last week’s LPGA Drive On Championship, missing the cut by just one stroke with a disastrous opening 77.
She did recover with a 67 in the second round, but missed the top 73-plus ties cut.
Still, the 20-year-old ICTSI-backed ace, who has never missed the last round of a 54-hole championship or the final 36 holes in the last 11 months, played down that unproductive stint and instead vowed to use the month-long break to get better, stronger.
“I will be taking the new few weeks off to rest and work on my game,” said the reigning US Women’s Open champion, who kicked off the new season as a full-time LPGA member in impressive fashion, placing sixth in the Tournament of Champions then finishing third Gainbridge LPGA, both in Florida.
She expects to reach top form when the LPGA stages a two-leg swing in Southeast Asia—the $1.7 million HSBC Women’s World Championship on March 3-6 at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course and the $1.6 million Honda LPGA Thailand on March 10-13 at Pattaya’s Old course in Chonburi.
Before heading to the twin SEA events, she’s taking the chance to renew old ties with relatives and friends in Manila.
“I will be spending some time in the Philippines before heading to Singapore and Thailand,” said Saso, who kept his No. 7 spot in the latest world ranking despite her Drive On Championship setback.
Recalling her Drive On Championship performance, she said she was still able to recover after giving up four strokes on the par-4 No. 16 of the Crown Colony course in Fort Myers. She added she also learned a thing or two from the setback.
“I was able to maintain my composure and stay focused despite a difficult hole on No. 16,” said Saso, referring to her quadruple bogey on the par-4 hole that all but stymied her first-round bid. “I still played some great golf and was proud of my round (second) even though it wasn’t enough to get me through (the final round).”
“But I learned a lot about the patience required by this sport and I am excited for my next event,” she added.
Meanwhile, the twin SEA events will also mark the season debut of world No. 1 Jin Young Ko and fellow Koreans Sei Young Kim and Hyo Joo Kim, who skipped the three-leg Florida swing for an extended break.