Yuka Saso won her second U.S. Women’s Open title in a wild finish at Lancaster Country Club.

Saso shot a final round 2-under 68 thanks to running off four birdies in a five-hole stretch on her back nine as big names collapsed around her.

Saso won $2.4 million (U.S.) from the $12 million purse. It’s the largest in women’s golf and had an emotional celebration – something rarely seen by her. This win marked her first on the LPGA Tour since 2021, when she also won the U.S. Women’s Open.

“I think it just makes it special because after a long wait – I wasn’t expecting to win the U.S. Women’s Open. Every time – last time, too, I wasn’t expecting it. This time, too, I wasn’t expecting it. I think that’s why it made me a bit emotional,” Saso said. “Winning just makes you look back in all the things that your family and your team and your sponsors – they’ve all supported me throughout the good or bad.”

While Saso had a tidy Sunday, there were meltdowns all around her – none more surprising than top-ranked Minjee Lee. The world’s ninth-ranked golfer led by three shots on the front nine but hit her tee shot on the par-3 12th into the water en route to a double bogey.

Two holes later she hit it into the tall grass and made another double bogey to finish with an 8-over 78. Lee finished tied for 9th.

Third-round leader Wichanee Meechai shot a 7-over 77 to tumble down the leaderboard, too.

Fellow Japanese golfer Hinako Shibuno finished second at 1 under. They were the only two golfers to finish under par.

American Ally Ewing shot the round of the day, a 4-under 66, to finish tied for third along with Andrea Lee.

Saso was not immune to mistakes but held on tight on a very difficult Lancaster layout.

The two players under par marked the fewest in red figures at the U.S. Open since 2014. The field scoring average in relation to par (+3.6) was also the highest in a decade, according to golf stats guru Justin Ray.

“I was hitting my driver really good. I don’t think I missed a lot of fairways today. I putted really good. I switched to this new putter, Odyssey. I’ve been putting really well with that, and I think that helped a little bit, as well,” Saso said. “I think I just stayed patient and enjoyed playing golf.”

In a fun final note, Saso became the first Filipino to win the Women’s Open in 2021 and now is the first golfer from Japan to win women’s golf’s biggest event – she officially changed her citizenship before turning 21 (her father is Japanese).

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que. finished tied for 58th, while Golf Town Athlete Brooke Henderson missed the cut.