A week after ruling the US Women’s Open golf championship, Yuka Saso of the Philippines has moved up a spot higher in the Women’s World Golf Rankings as she now occupies the eighth spot.
The 19-year-old Saso, the first Filipina to win the prestigious and oldest major championship, was at No. 9 when she ruled the US Women’s Open at Lake Course of The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California.
However, as of June 14, Saso’s average points improved to 5.49 points to take the eighth spot, while South Korea’s Hyo-Joo Kim dropped to No. 9 from No. 8 with her 5.44 points.
Between the two, Kim has so far accumulated more total points with 277.29 points to Saso’s 192.22 points.
Three golfers from Korea occupy the first to third slots, Jin Young Ko at No. 1 holding a 9.42 average points, followed by In Bee Park at No. 2 with 8.61 points, and Sei Young Kim at No. 3 with 7.66 points.
American Nelly Korda is at fourth place with 7.40 points, while at fifth is Canadian Brooke Henderson with 6.20 points. Danielle Kang and Lexi Thompson of the US are at sixth and seventh with 5.88 and 5.72 points, respectively.
Completing the Top 10 is Japan’s Nasa Hatoka with 5.42 points.
Saso came back from two double bogeys early in the final round to beat Hataoka during a three-hole playoff in the US Women’s Open to pocket $1 million – or about P48 million – last June 6.
Saso, who plays in the Japan LPGA Tour, tied the championship record of In Bee Park of Korea as the youngest winners in the US Women’s Open history at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days.
Saso, as well as the other top 9 golfers in the world are expected to vie for the trophy in KPMG Women’s Championship on June 24 to 27 at the Highlands Course of the Atlanta Athletic Club in John Creek, Georgia.