Yuka Saso thanked Rory McIlroy for his support and inspiration after she fought back from a horror start to beat Japan’s Nasa Hataoka at the third hole of a playoff to win the US Women’s Open at the Olympic Club.

The 19-year-old, who models her swing on the four-time Major champion, became the first Filipino to win a Major title after a dramatic final day in San Francisco.

She brushed in a 12-foot birdie putt on the first sudden-death playoff hole (the ninth) after both players made back-to-back pars in the two-hole aggregate playoff over the ninth and 18 holes.

At 19 years, 11 months, 17 days old, Saso joined seven-time major winner Inbee Park as the youngest champion in US Women’s Open history – to the day.

Lexi Thompson was the big loser, joining a list of high profile victims at the Olympic Club that includes Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Jim Furyk and Payne Stewart.

Thompson, the 54-hole leader, was five strokes ahead with 10 holes to play before covering the final eight in five-over-par as she bogeyed the 17th and 18th and shot a four-over 75 to finish one shot outside the playoff on four-under.

“I was actually upset,” Saso said about two double bogeys in her first three holes, which looked to have dashed her hopes of glory before she birdied the 16tn and 17th and carded a 73 to Hataoka’s 68 to tie on five-under

“My caddie talked to me and said there are still many holes to go and to keep doing what I’ve been doing the past few days. And to trust the process.”

Saso revealed earlier in the week that she has tried to emulate McIlroy’s swing, studying it on YouTube for an hour each night before going to bed.

“Rory said, ‘Get that trophy,’ and I did. So thank you, Rory,” Saso joked.

Saso had to survive a late charge by Hataoka, who was seeking to become the latest Japanese major champion after Hideki Matsuyama triumphed at the Masters earlier this year.

After starting the day six strokes off the lead, Hataoka stormed from behind with three birdies on her last six holes but could only manage pars on the three playoff holes.

Thompson (26) was seeking her second Major win but she missed too many fairways and also two crucial par putts on the last two holes.

“I played not so well today with a few of the bogeys coming in on the back nine, but the fans were unbelievable,” said Thompson, who left a slick 10 footer to make the playoff well short. “Hearing the chants, it gives me a reason to play. I’ll take today and I’ll learn from it.”

Saso hopes to meet McIlroy at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the Northern Irishman admitted on Saturday he was flattered she was copying his swing.

“So it's flattering, obviously,” McIlroy said. “It's really cool that someone that's used me as a model is leading the US Open. And I'm really, like I'm really into it. I watched some of it last night, brought back really bad memories from 2012, but I'm really, I'm excited to watch over the weekend and see how she does.”

On the similarities between them, he added: “There's some similarities. The way she sort of turns off the ball, the way our heads both go at impact. There is some stuff there.”

Asked which swings she should be watching, his swings en route to victory in the Wells Fargo Championship or the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, he said: “Yeah, true. I would probably tell her, stay away from these swings, these are the ones you need to look at. But it's cool.”

Stephanie Meadow missed the cut by two strokes but returns to action alongside Leona Maguire in this week’s LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship at Lake Merced Golf Club, just a five minute drive from the Olympic Club.

What Champion Receives

• The Mickey Wright Medal

• Custody of the Harton S. Semple Trophy for one year

• Exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Women’s Opens

• Exemptions into the next five AIG Women’s British Opens, KPMG Women’s PGA Championships, Amundi Evian Championships and ANA Inspirations

• A $1 million cheque

Notable

• Five players posted 72-hole totals under the par of 284, one more than in the five U.S. Opens contested here combined. Besides champion Saso, runner-up Hataoka and Thompson, Megan Khang and Shanshan Feng shared fourth at 2-under 282.

• The low 10 scorers and ties earn an exemption into the 77th U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., June 2-5. That group included Xiyu Lin, whose 67 was the low round of the day and catapulted her from a tie for 23rd to a share of seventh at 1-over 285.

• Megha Ganne, the 17-year-old high school junior who dazzled everyone with her poise and skill, finished as the low amateur despite a final-round 77. Ganne, who tied for 14th at 3-over 287, edged Oklahoma State All-American Maja Stark, of Sweden, by one stroke. Stanford University freshman Rachel Heck, the 2021 NCAA champion and world No. 2, tied for 35th (294), while Baylor All-American Gurleen Kaur finished 66th (305).

• The USGA will return to The Olympic Club in 2025 for the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship. It will be the 12th USGA championship at the club and fourth U.S. Amateur.

• So Yeon Ryu, the 2011 champion, upped her consecutive top-25 finish streak in the championship to 12 after a final-round 73 earned her solo 22nd.

Quotable

“I saw it this morning, and I was like, ohhh. I should have reposted it but I was so busy this morning, so I'll do it later. I felt really happy.” – Yuka Saso when asked about 2011 U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy’s Instagram post

“Of course, it's hard to smile, but it was an amazing week. The fans were unbelievable, hearing the chants just gives me a reason to play. It was just an unbelievable feeling to be out here and play this golf course. I'd never been out here, so it was a blessing, and I'll take today and I'll learn from it and have a lot more weeks [and years] ahead. I have a tournament next week [down the road at Lake Merced Golf Club], so we'll take it from here.” – Lexi Thompson on her disappointing finish 

“I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life. It's everything I've wanted since I was little, so it's just the best feeling.” – Megha Ganne on being the low amateur

“Honestly, I told myself yesterday, ‘Please just let me have one-under-par round,’ and this is all my goal today. Just simply achieving that goal is very satisfying.” – Xiyu Lin after her 67 moved her into a tie for seventh 

“Actually, so tough for me here. I never think I'm good at U.S. Open because always I feel like it's so tough. Especially [the] first time I saw the course, I'm like, ‘Oh, this is too hard for me.’” – 2018 champion Ariya Jutanugarn on The Olympic Club after tying for seventh 

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Results from Sunday's final round of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, played at 6,325-yard, par-71 The Olympic Club (Lake Course).

POS,NAME,OFFICIAL MONEY,SCORES-TOTAL,STATUS

1, Yuka Saso,$1,000,000,69-67-71-73-280,-4

2, Nasa Hataoka,$594,000,72-69-71-68-280,-4

(Playoff - Saso 4-4-3, Hataoka - 4-4-x)

 

3, Lexi Thompson,$381,974,69-71-66-75-281,-3

T4, Megan Khang,$245,394,68-70-74-70-282,-2

T4, Shanshan Feng,$245,394,69-70-72-71-282,-2

6, Angel Yin,$197,751,68-79-67-70-284,E

T7, Xiyu Lin,$147,265,72-74-72-67-285,+1

T7, Jin Young Ko,$147,265,70-74-72-69-285,+1

T7, Ariya Jutanugarn,$147,265,71-70-74-70-285,+1

T7, Brooke Henderson,$147,265,68-78-69-70-285,+1

T7, Inbee Park,$147,265,71-69-73-72-285,+1

T12, Amy Olson,$108,180,73-72-70-71-286,+2

T12, Jeongeun Lee6,$108,180,70-67-73-76-286,+2

T14, Celine Herbin,$96,319,73-74-69-71-287,+3

T14, Megha Ganne (a),$0,67-71-72-77-287,+3

T16, Alison Lee,$84,066,74-70-73-71-288,+4

T16, Sei Young Kim,$84,066,74-70-73-71-288,+4

T16, Lucy Li,$84,066,73-71-71-73-288,+4

T16, Maja Stark (a),$0,71-70-73-74-288,+4

T20, Madelene Sagstrom,$72,197,71-73-75-70-289,+5

T20, Hyojoo Kim,$72,197,72-70-72-75-289,+5

22, So Yeon Ryu,$65,304,74-72-71-73-290,+6

T23, Lizette Salas,$57,416,72-75-74-70-291,+7

T23, Emily Kristine Pedersen,$57,416,71-74-73-73-291,+7

T23, Jenny Shin,$57,416,72-75-76-68-291,+7

T26, Patty Tavatanakit,$45,819,75-70-75-72-292,+8

T26, Jennifer Kupcho,$45,819,70-73-75-74-292,+8

T26, In-Kyung Kim,$45,819,74-70-74-74-292,+8

T26, Marina Alex,$45,819,70-72-74-76-292,+8

T30, Jessica Korda,$36,988,72-74-74-73-293,+9

T30, Mina Harigae,$36,988,71-73-76-73-293,+9

T30, Matilda Castren,$36,988,74-71-73-75-293,+9

T30, Wichanee Meechai,$36,988,70-73-78-72-293,+9

T30, Lauren Stephenson,$36,988,70-76-75-72-293,+9

T35, Danielle Kang,$29,074,73-69-77-75-294,+10

T35, Jasmine Suwannapura,$29,074,73-74-74-73-294,+10

T35, Maria Parra,$29,074,72-74-72-76-294,+10

T35, Lydia Ko,$29,074,71-75-76-72-294,+10

T35, Rachel Heck (a),$0,75-72-75-72-294,+10

T35, Celine Boutier,$29,074,72-74-70-78-294,+10

T41, In Gee Chun,$23,089,75-70-75-75-295,+11

T41, Ally Ewing,$23,089,71-74-75-75-295,+11

T41, Ayako Uehara,$23,089,76-71-74-74-295,+11

T41, Stacy Lewis,$23,089,72-72-78-73-295,+11

T41, Gaby Lopez,$23,089,72-73-77-73-295,+11

T46, Mel Reid,$18,494,67-73-78-78-296,+12

T46, Brittany Altomare,$18,494,74-74-75-73-296,+12

T46, Yu Liu,$18,494,74-72-78-72-296,+12

T49, Leonie Harm,$14,554,73-75-73-76-297,+13

T49, Jenny Coleman,$14,554,73-73-76-75-297,+13

T49, Pernilla Lindberg,$14,554,76-72-76-73-297,+13

T49, Anna Nordqvist,$14,554,75-73-76-73-297,+13

T49, Carlota Ciganda,$14,554,72-76-77-72-297,+13

T54, Amy Yang,$12,540,74-73-74-77-298,+14

T54, Na Yeon Choi,$12,540,75-72-74-77-298,+14

T54, Minjee Lee,$12,540,73-73-77-75-298,+14

T57, Sarah Burnham,$12,004,76-66-78-79-299,+15

T57, Muni He,$12,004,72-76-72-79-299,+15

T57, Luna Sobron Galmes,$12,004,71-76-72-80-299,+15

T57, Austin Ernst,$12,004,70-74-81-74-299,+15

61, Giulia Molinaro,$11,716,74-74-76-76-300,+16

T62, Pajaree Anannarukarn,$11,545,76-71-75-79-301,+17

T62, Hannah Green,$11,545,73-75-78-75-301,+17

T64, Yealimi Noh,$11,307,76-69-76-81-302,+18

T64, Lee-Anne Pace,$11,307,76-71-77-78-302,+18

66, Gurleen Kaur (a),$0,71-73-80-81-305,+21