President Duterte heaped praised on teen golfer Yuka Saso after she won the recently concluded 2021 US Women’s Open last Monday, July 7.
Saso became the first Filipina to win a major title by beating Japanese Nasa Hataoka in a three-hole playoff at the Lake Course of The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.
“It is my pleasure to greet Miss Yuka Saso for winning the US Women’s Open golf tournament,” said Duterte.
“As the first Filipina to win the world’s oldest and most prestigious major women’s golf tournament, you have truly made our country proud.”
The one-minute, 13-second video of President Duterte’s message to the 19-year-old player was posted Friday, June 11, on the Twitter account of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Malacanang, through spokesman Harry Roque, initially congratulated Saso, who pocketed $1 million (approximately P48 million ) for winning one of the five major titles in women’s professional golf.
Saso came back from two double bogeys early in the final round and her win matched the record of Park In-bee of South Korea as the youngest winner in the championship's history at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days.
The Filipino-Japanese Saso met the chief executive at the Palace during a courtesy call back in 2018 following the former’s double gold medal win in the Asian Games in Indonesia.
President Duterte said she wishes Saso more success, since her success is also the country’s success.
“May you remain determined as you aim higher, humbled even with all fulfillments... success and triumphant as you raise our flag in future competitions,” he said. “Congratulations and mabuhay ka.”