Yuka, Bianca reunite in US Women’s Open

MANILA, Philippines — They last played together in 2018, anchoring Team Philippines’ breakthrough romp in the Asian Games in Jakarta with Yuka Saso winning the individual gold and Bianca Pagdanganan bagging the bronze. In the next eight days, the power-hitting pair would be meeting again – not as teammates though but as fellow competitors in the US Women’s Open.

But unless they dish out games that would merit spots in the leaderboard, Saso and Pagdanganan could be just two of the 156 players who have made it to the exempt list of what has long been considered as the world’s premier ladies championship for its lore, cast, prize money and history.

The cream of the world ladies pro crop are all primed up for the $5.5 million event firing off Dec. 10 at the Champions Club in Houston, Texas.

Pagdanganan, 23, clinched a spot by placing joint ninth in the last LPGA Tour major, the Women’s PGA Championship in Pennsylvania last October, while LPGA of Japan Tour stalwart and world No. 48 Saso is one of the 28 who earned their way into the fabled event through the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

The ICTSI-backed power hitters are thrilled to be slugging it out with the best in the world and a slew of young, rising international stars.