Saso finds form, fires 67 to reignite Chevron campaign
MANILA, Philippines — Yuka Saso transformed a late first-round stumble into a powerful catalyst, unleashing a fiery second-round surge that reignited her campaign at the Chevron Championship in Houston, Texas on Friday (Saturday Manila time).
Teetering on the brink of another missed cut after an opening 74, Saso responded with grit and precision, firing a superb 67 to vault herself into a tie for 16th at 141 after 36 holes. More importantly, she flipped the narrative — from survival mode to legitimate contention in the season’s first major.
The turnaround was nothing short of striking.
Coming off three consecutive missed cuts, the two-time US Women’s Open champion entered the second round with renewed clarity and composure. Starting from the back nine, she quickly found rhythm, birdying three holes early to build confidence. Her swing looked freer, her putting more assured and her demeanor markedly steadier.
Saso’s momentum peaked with three consecutive birdies from No. 3, briefly hinting at a blistering finish. Though back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7 threatened to derail her charge, she showed maturity and resolve — traits that have defined her major-winning pedigree. A birdie on the eighth and a steady par on the ninth capped a 33-34 card.
What stood out most was her response under pressure.
After hovering dangerously close to the cut line just a day earlier, Saso now finds herself within striking distance of a Top 10 finish — an outcome that seemed unlikely 24 hours prior. With two rounds remaining, her combination of improved driving accuracy, sharper iron play and confident putting positions her as a dark horse capable of climbing further up the leaderboard.
At the top, Nelly Korda continues to dominate, posting a second straight 65 to reach 14-under 130 and open a commanding six-shot lead. But while the spotlight remains on the frontrunner, Saso’s resurgence offers one of the tournament’s most compelling storylines.
Equally notable is the difficulty of the Memorial Park Golf Course, which has already claimed several high-profile victims. Among those missing the cut are some of the game’s biggest names, underscoring just how valuable — and hard-earned — Saso’s rebound has been.
Out of the weekend play were current world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and former World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, who both carded 73s for a total of 147, missing the cut by one shot. Also eliminated were Rose Zhang, who finished at 147 after a 74, Lydia Ko (75-147), Nasa Hataoka (74-148), and Sei Young Kim (75-148).
From near elimination to emerging contention, Saso has not only kept her weekend hopes alive but has also reignited belief in her ability to contend on the biggest stage. If her upward trajectory continues, a Top-10 finish and perhaps even more — remains well within reach.
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