Yuka Saso is Hoping to Give Japan 1st Gold in Olympic Golf

Yuka Saso and Miyuu Yamashita will carry the hopes for Japan when the women's golf tournament gets underway on Wednesday, August 7 at the Paris Olympics.

Saso is coming off her second US Women's Open title, which she won in June with a 4-under-par 276 to become the first Japanese to clinch two major overseas titles.

In the run-up to the Olympics, Saso said her focus is on all-around improvement as a golfer.

“I work on every aspect of my game, from driving to putting, because to win a tournament, everything has to work together," she was quoted as saying by the Philippine Star.

The 23-year-old Saso was born to a Filipino mother and a Japanese father. 

Her first win at the US Women's Open was in 2021. Given her track record, Saso would have to be considered Japan's best medal hope in Paris.

Saso represented the Philippines in international golf competition until 2021, including at the Tokyo Olympics. 

At the Tokyo Games, Saso finished tied for ninth after rounds of 74, 68, 67 and 65. (She started officially competing for Japan in 2022.)

Without the struggles in the opening round at Tokyo 2020, she could have been a gold-medal contender.

Golf Drama: A Memorable Finish at the Tokyo Olympics

In 2021, American Nelly Korda, who shot a final-round 69 at Saitama Prefecture's Kasumigaseki Country Club, won the gold. She finished one stroke ahead of Japan's Mone Inami and New Zealand's Lydia Ko of New Zealand.

Inami beat Ko in a sudden-death playoff to take the silver medal.

Korda is back to defend her title when play begins at Le Golf National course just outside Paris, in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, on Wednesday.

The American enters the Olympic tournament with the hot hand after she won her fifth consecutive title of 2024 ― and her second major ― at the Chevron Championship in April.

Korda said she relishes the opportunity to compete in the Olympics again.

"It's been three years, and as you said, it's a different country, different venue," Korda told reporters in France. "Doesn't really feel like I'm defending, really.

"So I'm just going to go out, enjoy the experience. Hopefully enjoy the fans. The men had amazing fans out here. I was wowed by how many people are out here watching and just happy that I'm back in this position. I'm here representing my country."

Added Korda, "I'm a two-time Olympian and I'm living out my dream."

In the Golf Spotlight in France

Yamashita, a 23-year-old native of Osaka Prefecture, has 11 professional wins on the JLPGA Tour. Her best result overseas was when she finished tied for second at the 2024 Women's PGA Championship in June.

In late June, Yamashita shared her thoughts on representing Japan at the Paris Games.

"The Olympics is a very special event," she was quoted as saying by NHK, "and I don't think it's easy to qualify for the Olympics, so I'm very happy."

At total of 33 countries will be represented in the 60-player field at the women's tournament.

Golf was included in the Olympic program in 1900 and 1904.

After a long absence, the IOC decided to reinstate golf at the 2016 Rio Games. 

Hideki Matsuyama won the bronze medal in the men's competition at the Paris Games on Sunday, August 4. American Scottie Scheffler captured the gold and Britain's Tommy Fleetwood took the silver.

RELATED:

• Hideki Matsuyama Claims Olympic Golf Bronze with a Final-Round 65
• Yuka Saso Wins US Women's Open for the 2nd Time
• Miyuu Yamashita Places 2nd in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship

Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.