Yuka Saso vs. three junglers join her clinic. PICTURE CONTRIBUTION/Seph Javellana.
She may have given up on representing the country in future international golf tournaments but for Yuka Saso, there are some things about the Philippines that never change.
“It always feels like home here,” the Japanese-Philippines golf star told reporters on Tuesday. “I was born here and raised here.”
Saso chose Japanese citizenship to match her goal of becoming a professional golfer—her Filipino passport doesn’t allow for more free, visa-free travel—but she has always stayed true to her roots. its source.
Saso returned home to register as a brand ambassador for Federal Land, Inc., which had partnered with Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd., and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. to build Mitsukoshi Bonifacio Global City (BGC), one of the more popular shopping malls in Japan now opening here.
“I am very happy that Mitsukoshi BGC is now open in the Philippines. It’s one of my favorite stores in Japan,” says Saso.
Yuka Saso went home again. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SEPH JAVELLANA .
Saso, 21, has a Japanese father and Filipino mother in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, and moved to Japan at the age of 4 before flying back here at the age of 9 to study and pursue golf.
She mingled with the junglers during the event, something that brought back memories.
“That’s so great. It reminds me of when I started golfing,” she said of the seven young aces who took up a game of skill with her. “To see how they enjoy golf, it’s amazing. It reminds me not to forget to enjoy the fun of golf. They inspire me. Hopefully I can inspire them a little bit and I can continue to do those things in the future.”
In the meantime, the former US Open champion, armed with her newest sponsor, hopes to continue to forge her own spot during the US Women’s Professional Golfers Association season. year 2023.
And, if her schedule allows, make more frequent trips to the place she’s always called home.
“I hope to come back for more but obviously not,” Saso said. “December and January are the only times [months] I can go back. Hopefully I can be back sometime in the summer where there are a lot of junior tournaments that I can participate in. Hopefully I can, but I can’t promise.”
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