'They gave me so much energy': Yuka Saso grateful for support from Pinoys

Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News 

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/06/07/golf_yuka-saso_ph-flag.jpg' ><figcaption>Yuka Saso hoists the US Open trophy with a group of spectators after winning in a sudden death playoff over Nasa Hataoka following the final round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at The Olympic Club. <em>Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Yuka Saso had a bit of a homecourt advantage en route to winning the 76th U.S. Women's Open, Sunday at the Olympic Club in San Francisco (early Monday in Manila).</p><p>A sizable Filipino contingent watched as the 19-year-old Saso nailed a 10-foot birdie putt to clinch the victory, in the process becoming the first golfer from the Philippines -- male or female -- to win a major. </p><p>She outlasted Japan's Nasa Hataoka in the sudden death playoff, after having recovered from a poor start to the last round wherein she had two double bogeys.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/07/21/us-womens-open-golf-yuka-saso-final-round'>FULL STORY: History! Yuka Saso of the Philippines crowned US Women’s Open golf champion</a></li></ul><blockquote class='twitter-tweet'><p dir='ltr' lang='en'>Yuka Saso getting multiple interviews from all over. And the Pinoy fans are right behind her! 🇵🇭 pride here in the Bay Area! Some said it was like a home course advantage! <a href='https://t.co/u1nz3K9FrS'>pic.twitter.com/u1nz3K9FrS</a></p>— TJ Manotoc (@tjmanotoc) <a href='https://twitter.com/tjmanotoc/status/1401697797808680963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>June 7, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src='https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' type='text/javascript'></script><p>Afterward, she expressed her gratitude to Filipinos who watched her achieve history.</p><p>"Sobrang malaki po 'yung pasasalamat ko sa kanilang lahat sa pagpunta po dito. Alam ko na hindi po madali kumuha ng tickets, madaming tao, kailangan po nila makipag-siksikan," she said. "Maraming salamat po. Ang dami niyo pong binigay sa akin na energy, salamat po."</p><p>"There's so many people holding up Philippines flags, and it's really big. It made me really happy," she also said.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/multimedia/slideshow/06/07/21/in-photos-pinoy-pride-oozes-as-yuka-saso-puts-country-in-golfing-map'>READ: Pinoy pride oozes, as Yuka Saso puts country on golfing map</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/07/21/watch-yuka-saso-with-the-winning-shot-for-the-us-womens-open-title'>WATCH: Yuka Saso with the winning shot for the US Women's Open title</a></li></ul><p>Saso's feat was also widely celebrated in the Philippines, and she also thanked those who have showered her with support throughout the whole tournament.</p><p>A double gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Games, Saso had seized a first-round lead before falling to second heading into Sunday's last round. She showed remarkable poise, however, in coming away with the victory.</p><p>"I don't know what's happening in the Philippines right now, but I'm just thankful that there's so many people in the Philippines cheering for me," said Saso, who in 2020 was named Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/07/21/golfer-yuka-saso-to-be-hailed-as-athlete-of-the-year'>READ: Golfer Yuka Saso to be hailed as Athlete of the Year</a></li></ul><p>"I don't know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone," she said.</p><p>Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque congratulated Saso for "bringing honor to the Philippines." </p><p>"She is indeed the pride and glory of our country. We are all proud of you. Congratulations," he said in a statement. </p><p>Vice President Leni Robredo thanked Saso "for making history."</p><p>"Iba talaga ang husay at puso ng kabataang Pinoy... Excited kami na mag-cheer para sa ’yo sa mas marami pang laban, panalo at pangarap," she said on Twitter. </p><p>(The excellence and heart of the Filipino youth are different. We are excited to cheer for you in more fights, triumphs, and dreams.)</p><p><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe allow='autoplay; fullscreen' frameborder='0' height='100%' id='ivsplayer01' scrolling='no' src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&spid=3001339&vid=1700974' width='100%'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more in <a href='//www.iwantv.com.ph/'>iWantv</a> or <a href='//tfc.tv/'>TFC.tv</a></div>

<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/07/21/us-womens-open-golf-yuka-saso-final-round'>FULL STORY: History! Yuka Saso of the Philippines crowned US Women’s Open golf champion</a></li></ul><blockquote class='twitter-tweet'><p dir='ltr' lang='en'>Yuka Saso getting multiple interviews from all over. And the Pinoy fans are right behind her! 🇵🇭 pride here in the Bay Area! Some said it was like a home course advantage! <a href='https://t.co/u1nz3K9FrS'>pic.twitter.com/u1nz3K9FrS</a></p>— TJ Manotoc (@tjmanotoc) <a href='https://twitter.com/tjmanotoc/status/1401697797808680963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw'>June 7, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src='https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' type='text/javascript'></script><p>Afterward, she expressed her gratitude to Filipinos who watched her achieve history.</p><p>"Sobrang malaki po 'yung pasasalamat ko sa kanilang lahat sa pagpunta po dito. Alam ko na hindi po madali kumuha ng tickets, madaming tao, kailangan po nila makipag-siksikan," she said. "Maraming salamat po. Ang dami niyo pong binigay sa akin na energy, salamat po."</p><p>"There's so many people holding up Philippines flags, and it's really big. It made me really happy," she also said.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/multimedia/slideshow/06/07/21/in-photos-pinoy-pride-oozes-as-yuka-saso-puts-country-in-golfing-map'>READ: Pinoy pride oozes, as Yuka Saso puts country on golfing map</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/07/21/watch-yuka-saso-with-the-winning-shot-for-the-us-womens-open-title'>WATCH: Yuka Saso with the winning shot for the US Women's Open title</a></li></ul><p>Saso's feat was also widely celebrated in the Philippines, and she also thanked those who have showered her with support throughout the whole tournament.</p><p>A double gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Games, Saso had seized a first-round lead before falling to second heading into Sunday's last round. She showed remarkable poise, however, in coming away with the victory.</p><p>"I don't know what's happening in the Philippines right now, but I'm just thankful that there's so many people in the Philippines cheering for me," said Saso, who in 2020 was named Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/07/21/golfer-yuka-saso-to-be-hailed-as-athlete-of-the-year'>READ: Golfer Yuka Saso to be hailed as Athlete of the Year</a></li></ul><p>"I don't know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone," she said.</p><p>Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque congratulated Saso for "bringing honor to the Philippines." </p><p>"She is indeed the pride and glory of our country. We are all proud of you. Congratulations," he said in a statement. </p><p>Vice President Leni Robredo thanked Saso "for making history."</p><p>"Iba talaga ang husay at puso ng kabataang Pinoy... Excited kami na mag-cheer para sa ’yo sa mas marami pang laban, panalo at pangarap," she said on Twitter. </p><p>(The excellence and heart of the Filipino youth are different. We are excited to cheer for you in more fights, triumphs, and dreams.)</p><p><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe allow='autoplay; fullscreen' frameborder='0' height='100%' id='ivsplayer01' scrolling='no' src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&spid=3001339&vid=1700974' width='100%'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more in <a href='//www.iwantv.com.ph/'>iWantv</a> or <a href='//tfc.tv/'>TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>A sizable Filipino contingent watched as the 19-year-old Saso nailed a 10-foot birdie putt to clinch the victory, in the process becoming the first golfer from the Philippines -- male or female -- to win a major. </p><p>She outlasted Japan's Nasa Hataoka in the sudden death playoff, after having recovered from a poor start to the last round wherein she had two double bogeys.</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/06/07/golf_yuka-saso_ph-flag.jpg' ><figcaption>Yuka Saso hoists the US Open trophy with a group of spectators after winning in a sudden death playoff over Nasa Hataoka following the final round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at The Olympic Club. <em>Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Yuka Saso had a bit of a homecourt advantage en route to winning the 76th U.S. Women's Open, Sunday at the Olympic Club in San Francisco (early Monday in Manila).</p>

<p>Yuka Saso had a bit of a homecourt advantage en route to winning the 76th U.S. Women's Open, Sunday at the Olympic Club in San Francisco (early Monday in Manila).</p>

Yuka Saso had a bit of a homecourt advantage en route to winning the 76th U.S. Women's Open, Sunday at the Olympic Club in San Francisco (early Monday in Manila).

'They gave me so much energy': Yuka Saso grateful for support from Pinoys | ABS-CBN News

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'They gave me so much energy': Yuka Saso grateful for support from Pinoys

'They gave me so much energy': Yuka Saso grateful for support from Pinoys