Samurai spirit, Pinay heart

Yuka Saso is looking to rediscover her spark as she joins a stacked field at the AIG Women’s Open, the final major of the LPGA season, which tees off Thursday at the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales.

The 24-year-old Fil-Japanese star, a two-time US Women’s Open champion, has had a rough 2025 season so far, making just five cuts in 11 starts and earning under $81,000 — far from her usual elite form. She’s struggled particularly in recent months, missing five of her last six cuts, including at the Amundi Evian Championship.

Despite ranking second in putting per greens in regulation (GIR), she’s been plagued by inconsistency off the tee and into the greens, sitting 144th in GIR and 152nd in driving accuracy.

But Saso hopes to turn things around at the links-style layout of Royal Porthcawl, where the unpredictable weather and demanding course setup could level the playing field. She tees off at 7:36 a.m. Thursday, grouped with Ashleigh Buhai and Sei Young Kim.

She enters the event under the radar, with the spotlight on some of the biggest names in women’s golf.

Leading the charge is defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who’s eager to bounce back from a quiet season. Still only 28, Ko already owns 23 LPGA titles and an Olympic gold medal. A successful title defense would further cement her status among the game’s legends.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda remains winless in 2025 but is always a contender. After a scorching 2024, she’s been close in majors this year, finishing T2 at the US Women’s Open and T14 at the Chevron. A victory in Wales would mark her first AIG Women’s Open title.

Australia’s Minjee Lee is one of the hottest players on tour, fresh from a win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and a T3 at the Evian. Her major pedigree makes her one to watch.

Thailand’s Atthaya “Jeeno” Thitikul, 22, leads the Race to CME Globe with eight top-10 finishes, including a win at the Mizuho Americas Open. With a T4 at the Women’s PGA and a runner-up finish at the Evian, she’s edging closer to her first major title.

Home favorite Charley Hull is also hungry for a breakthrough. The Englishwoman has had her share of close calls in majors, and playing on British soil could finally give her the edge she needs to win.

Lottie Woad, the rising English phenom, is another intriguing name. The 21-year-old recently turned pro and wasted no time making her mark — winning the KPMG Irish Open and capturing her first LPGA title at the Women’s Scottish Open last week.

Other major threats include Japan’s Ayaka Furue, a recent Evian champion; Grace Kim of Australia, who outdueled Jeeno in a playoff to win the same event; and Sweden’s Maja Stark, already a major winner this year at the US Women’s Open.

Veterans like Hyo Joo Kim and Lilia Vu, both proven major champions, also add depth to the field.

As for Saso, the path back to the top won’t be easy. But if her past triumphs have proven anything, it’s that she has the talent and mental toughness to contend when it matters most. And at Royal Porthcawl, where the winds can change everything, anything is possible.