Yuka Saso joins an elite cast in chasing one last leap at the Chevron Championship set on Thursday (Friday in Manila) in Rancho Mirage, California.
This would be Saso’s sixth tournament this year as she hopes to jump back into the Top 10 after slipping to 11th this week.
The 20-year-old Fil-Japanese is coming off a joint 12th place finish at the Honda LPGA Thailand and joint 43rd at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore early this month.
The Chevron Championship is the first women’s major for 2022 and also the last to be held at the Mission Hills Country Club as it goes to a new home in Houston, Texas next year.
The tournament, which was previously known as the Nabisco Championship, Kraft Nabisco Championship, and most recently the ANA Inspiration, holds a lot of memories and traditions such as putting the robe on the 18th green and leaping into the famous water hazard nicknamed “Poppie’s Pond” for the winner.
And Saso, along with others, hopes to experience that tradition before the tournament moves into a new home.
Among those also gunning for the top honors are defending champion Patty Tavatanakit and previous winners Mirim Lee, Jin Young Ko, Pernilla Lindberg, So Yeon Ryu, Lydia Ko, Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis, as well as LPGA Tour Hall of Fame member Inbee Park.
The72-hole event, which began in 1972 and became a major in 1983, offers $5 million total purse.