‘I kind of blew up’: Implosion sinks Minjee Lee as Yuka Saso claims second title

A shattered Minjee Lee is vowing to bounce back after a dramatic collapse allowed Japanese star Yuko Saso to storm to women’s US Open glory in Pennsylvania.

After starting the final round in a three-way share of the lead, then surging three shots clear, Lee closed with a shocking eight-over 78 as Saso (68) produced a late birdie blitz to romp to a historic three-stroke triumph at Lancaster Country Club.

Saso finished with a four-under-par total of 276, with compatriot Hinako Shibuno (72) runner-up and completing the first-ever Japanese quinella at a major – men’s or women’s.

Americans Andrea Lee (75) and Ally Ewing (66) shared third at even par for the championship.

After taking a two-shot lead into the back nine, Lee eventually wound up in a tie for ninth at three over.

The 27-year-old’s hopes of joining Australian golf royalty with a third career major championship essentially perished in a crushing 15-minute stretch mid-round.

Even after racking up a third bogey of the day on the ninth, Lee headed to the back nine two shots in front.

But a sloppy three-putt bogey on the 10th precipitated a shocking meltdown.

Minjee takes a drop on the 14th.Credit: AP

Lee dunked her tee shot into the water en route to a double-bogey five on the devilish par-three 12th that brought world No.1 Nelly Korda unstuck on Thursday.

With Saso, playing in the penultimate group behind Lee, posting birdies on 12 and 13, the tournament suddenly turned on a five-shot swing.

From two behind, where she started on Sunday, Saso was three in front of Lee and the rest of the chasing pack.

Another double bogey from Lee on No.14 ended all hope of the West Australian joining the great Karrie Webb as a dual US Open champion.

“I started good. Felt like I hit it pretty good; just missed a couple of putts for birdie early and then I kind of blew up from there,” Lee said.

A commanding four-shot winner two years ago at Pine Needles, Lee now must pick up the pieces from Sunday’s wreckage before the season’s last three major championships and Paris Olympics, which all come in the next three months.

Yuka Saso after winning the women’s US Open.Credit: Getty

“I did a lot of good things but obviously didn’t play very well today and I’m disappointed that I didn’t do better,” she said.

“Obviously, I’m going to acknowledge my disappointment and then come back stronger, take the positives out of the week.

“It’s a lot of pressure on the last day, so it wasn’t my best performance, but I’m sure there will be many better performances ahead.”

In stark contrast, Lee’s Games teammate Hannah Green finished with a flurry to share 16th at five over following a final-round 66, the equal low round of the week.

But the spoils – and women’s golf’s biggest winner’s cheque of $US2.4 million ($3.6 million) – belong to Saso, who herself became a two-time US Open champion.

The Philippines-born star also won in 2021 at the famed Olympic Club in San Francisco.

At 22 years, 11 months and 13 days, Saso is the youngest player to win two women’s US Open crowns – and the first to land two majors representing different nations.

“It feels great,” Saso said. “Winning in 2021 representing the Philippines, I feel like I was able to give back to my mum.

“And this year, I was able to represent Japan and I think I was able to give back to my dad. So I’m very happy that I was able to do it. It’s just a wonderful feeling that I was able to give back to my parents.”

Saso’s latest triumph looked unlikely when she four-putted for double bogey on the sixth to slip four strikes behind Lee.

But then, seemingly in the blink of an eye, everything changed as Lee, striving to join Webb, Jan Stephenson and Peter Thomson as only the fourth Australian to win more than two majors, completely unravelled down the stretch.

AAP

Well, that’s all from us for the final round of the women’s US Open from Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.

I’d like to say it’s been an enjoyable morning, but it hasn’t really. Australia’s great hope, Minjee Lee, who started the day in a share of the lead and then had a three-shot cushion on the front nine, had a disastrous couple of hours and that’s that.

Japan’s Yuka Saso has won her second US Open, this time competing under the flag of her new nation having won her first for the Philippines.

Thanks for joining us and enjoy your Monday.

Sakura Koiwai (left) congratulates Yuka Saso.Credit: AP

There’s still a little smile on Minjee Lee’s face as she walks up the 18th, but what a forgettable day for Australia’s two-time major winner.

It’s beyond belief that a few hours ago she led this tournament by three shots on the front nine, helped by a birdie on the opening hole. But since then, she’s posted nine bogeys to finish the day with an eight-over 78. That drops her to three-over for the tournament and a tied-ninth finish.

It’s been a brutal end to a brutal week. Can you believe she shot 66 in her third round?

The United States’ Andrea Lee (E) surrendered second spot with bogey on the last hole with Yuka Saso (-4) running out a three-shot winner from Japanese compatriot Hinako Shibuno (-1).

Can you believe only two players finished the tournament under par? What an incredibly hard week.

Minjee Lee has had a torrid day.Credit: AP

Japan’s world No.30 has done it, finally being able to celebrate what we’ve known for the best part of the last hour or so.

Andrea Lee tees off on the 18th hole, a par-four, and with that, it’s officially Saso’s second US Open title given she already leads by three shots.

What a performance on a day of absolute bedlam at Lancaster Country Club.

Yuka Saso holes out on the 18th.Credit: Getty

If you’re wondering why Yuka Saso is being touted as winning her first major for Japan despite already claiming a US Open three years ago, there’s a good reason why.

The world No.30 shares both Filipino and Japanese heritage, but changed the flag she competes under after her first major win.

Japanese law forbids dual citizenship once an individual turns 22, and with so much easier access to travel the world on a Japanese passport, Saso changed her nationality several years ago.

Speaking in the Philippines about her decision several years ago, Saso said: “First, I’m super proud of being half-Japanese, half-Filipino and that will never change. I’ll be forever Filipino and Japanese.

“And the main reason in choosing Japanese citizenship is the passport [which] I will use to travel.”

Meanwhile, Andrea Lee could only make bogey on the 17th hole meaning she walks to the last three shots behind Saso. It’s a Japanese win in Pennsylvania.

Yuka Saso has just about confirmed what we’ve known for the last hour, she’s going to be a US Open winner for the second time.

Her approach into the 18th came up uncharacteristically short, but she’s pitched to a couple of feet and taps in for par to finish the tournament at four-under. It’s a two shot lead from Andrea Lee, who is struggling to make par on the 17th.

This tournament is Saso’s - and she thoroughly deserves it.

Yuka Saso has just let rip trying to clear the fences with her tee shot on the 18th. Nerves? What nerves?

She’s in prime position to approach the final green, striding down the fairway with a two-shot lead. She’s getting very close to lifting another US Open.

Meanwhile, Andrea Lee scrambles par on the 16th to keep her faint hopes alive. Is there any magic left in her?

Yuka Saso is leading on the 18th hole.Credit: AP

Minjee Lee might not even finish as the highest-placed Australian at the end of this tournament, which is almost beyond comprehension when you consider where things stood at the start of the day.

Lee, who started the final round 14 shots ahead of Hannah Green, is now only two ahead of her great friend after another bogey on the 15th hole. She’s eight-over for the day and three-over for the tournament, just a couple of strokes ahead of Green, who shot an equal best four-under 66 today.

Meanwhile, Yuka Saso is feeling the nerves. It’s hard to believe she had a four-putt triple bogey a couple of hours ago, and now she’s had a three-putt bogey to drop a shot on 17.

Her lead still remains at two as she strides to the 18th hole. Do you think she’s worried? She’s stopped to sign an autograph on the way to the 18th tee box.

Her nearest rival, Andrea Lee, is in a spot of bother on the 16th, too.

You want to know how chaotic the final round has been?

The final two groups featuring four golfers, including Australia’s Minjee Lee, are a combined 19-over par so far today. It’s been absolute carnage.

Unfortunately for Lee, who is seven-over on her final round, it has meant her chances have imploded the longer the day has gone on.

The United States’ Andrea Lee.Credit: Getty

If you want to know the quality of some of these players, just take a look at Yuka Saso’s drive into the reachable par-four 16th hole.

Having been forced to wait for 10 minutes on the tee as the group ahead cleared the green, Saso has rifled her drive onto the putting surface and the ball has sufficient check to pull up 25 feet from the hole for an eagle attempt.

It’s a long, curling, downhill effort which almost has Saso aiming at a 45 degree angle from the hole, but she somehow leaves the attempt short. How did she do that? You could have sworn that putt had almost no chance of coming up short of the cup.

But with the following tricky birdie putt, she nails it. A little bit of swagger, too, walking it in as her lead balloons to three shots with two holes to play. She’s almost home.

Did we say that out loud?