Back home for the holidays, Yuka Saso never forgets where it all started.
For the two-time US Women’s Open champion, every trip back to the Philippines is more than a family reunion — it’s a moment to reflect, reset, and, most importantly, give back. And this season, that meant spending time on the range with young golfers who share the same dreams she once had.
Widely regarded as the most successful Philippine-born golfer in history, Saso is quick to downplay any notion of a “secret” behind her rise. For her, the path to the top has always been simple — though never easy.
“There’s really no shortcut,” Saso said during the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Clinic with Yuka Saso at The Country Club on Tuesday. “It’s about choosing to practice every day and making the right decisions about who you want to be on the golf course.”
Giving back has become a holiday tradition for Saso whenever she returns home to San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Beyond catching up with fellow pros, she makes it a point to connect with junior golfers from the Junior PGT, sharing lessons shaped by her own journey from promising amateur to major champion.
“Spending more time on the golf course is very important,” said Saso, who captured the US Women’s Open titles in 2021 and 2024. “The more time you spend on the course, the more experience you gain — and golf really requires a lot of experience for us to grow.”
Asked what advice she would give to aspiring golfers, including those competing in the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour, Saso returned to the basics — the same ones she still checks herself, even at the highest level.
“It’s the classic advice: check your aim, check your ball position,” she said. “It sounds simple, but it’s very important. I still do it. Once you get good at repeating the basics, you become more consistent and start hitting better shots.”
But beyond mechanics, Saso stressed the importance of mindset, especially when dealing with the intensity of competition.
“I try not to use the word ‘pressure,’” she explained. “It’s not nice to hear, and it’s not something I want to tell myself. I think of it as a challenge. If we see it as pressure, we become smaller. If we see it as a challenge, we try to overcome it.”
Despite an underwhelming LPGA season, Saso remains eager to return to the world’s premier women’s tour — and she has no plans to reinvent her game.
“I do the same things whether I’m playing good or bad,” she said. “I’m not changing anything.”
For Saso, consistency is non-negotiable.
“Being consistent is the key. I don’t try to do anything extra or step outside my routine just because I’m not playing well,” she said. “Sticking to what you trust matters.”
Above all, she emphasized patience — a trait she believes defines every successful golfer.
“Be patient,” Saso said. “There’s no shortcut to success, and no way to make a golfer’s life easy. You have to sacrifice time if you want to be good at something. That’s normal. Don’t be afraid of that sacrifice — and trust yourself more than anyone else.”
Through both her words and actions, Saso continues to inspire the next generation, proving that greatness isn’t built on talent alone — but on humility, perseverance, and a genuine willingness to give back.