The second women's Major of the season has reached its conclusion and, after a whole host of players battled it out for their own little slice of history, it was a former US Women's Open champion who doubled her Major tally.
A stunning back nine from Yuka Saso, including four birdies in a five hole stretch, helped her post a final round of 68 to win the 2024 US Women's Open Championship.
Saso was not immune from mistakes, however, after four-putting the par 3 sixth hole left her four back from Minjee Lee at the time, but it would prove to be her final mistake in a sensational final round.
Finishing at four-under, Saso held off the field to win by three strokes over Japanese player, Hinako Shibuno, after both Minjee and Andrea Lee fell out of contention on the back nine.
Minjee Lee, who began the day in a three-way tie for the lead, snatched the solo advantage after a birdie on the first hole. She stood on the 10th tee with a two shot lead, but would go on to bogey the 10th and find the water on the 12th, leading to a double bogey. Lee would fall off on the back nine, coming home in 41 to post a disappointing final round of 78.
Her playing partner, Andrea, would card only one birdie on the day as she failed to chase down a charging Saso, finishing at level par with a closing round of 75.
The third of the overnight leaders, Wichanee Meechai, triple bogeyed the par 3 on her way to a final round 77, finishing in a tie for sixth.
US WOMEN'S OPEN 2024 LEADERBOARD
- -4 Yuka Saso
- -1 Hinako Shibuno
- E Ally Ewing, Andrea Lee
- +1 Arpichaya Yubol
Updates from...
Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the 2024 US Women's Open final round!
We are expecting a tense Sunday at Lancaster Country Club as the prize inches closer and closer. Three players currently co-lead, while two golfers are nicely poised right behind in case of any slip-ups.
Stay tuned to keep up to date with all the key moments throughout the final round. Thank you for joining us!
DAY OF DRAMA AHEAD
Most of the field have begun their final rounds, and those chasing are trying to post as low number as possible in order to pile the pressure on. Yan Liu is five-over for the tournament, so not in contention, but four-under for the day through 15. That shows there are birdies out there for those brave enough to seek them out.
For everyone else behind her, there is plenty of time to change the course of history and book their spot in history as a Major champion. What drama will today throw up, I wonder?...
WHAT'S ON THE LINE TODAY
Playing for the largest purse in women's golf history 👀 pic.twitter.com/YqgQocutiCJune 2, 2024
Not only is major championship glory on offer for competitors this afternoon in Pennsylvania, this edition of the Women's US Open boasts the biggest purse in the history of women's golf.
THE LEADERS BEGIN THEIR FINAL ROUNDS
Both Minjee and Andrea Lee find the short grass with their opening tee shots. Minjee was a bit fortunate, dancing past the left fairway bunker to find the first cut. Andrea finds the centre of the fairway. We're fully underway at the final day of the 2024 Women's US Open!
MEECHAI DROPS A SHOT AT THE FIRST
Wichanee Meechai misses a short par putt on the first green to drop back to 4-under-par. Behind her, both Andrea and Minjee Lee find the green. Andrea finds the centre of the green leaving a lengthy birdie putt, while Minjee is in a much better position with around 15ft left for her birdie attempt.
MINJEE LEE BIRDIES THE FIRST TO TAKE SOLO LEAD, ANDREA BOGEYS
Dead centre. Minjee Lee birdies the first hole to take the solo lead at the first.
Meanwhile, Andrea Lee fails to clean up from around 5ft and drops a shot. A two shot swing for the two time major champ over her playing partner, while Meechai has a testing par putt on the 2nd green.
NIGHTMARE START FOR MEECHAI
Wichanee Meechai three putts the second green to fall back to 3-under-par. Two bogeys in her opening two holes is not the start she had in mind...
MINJEE FINDS THE GREEN, ANDREA FINDS THE BUNKER
Both players had only 100 yards for their approach shots into the second hole, but Andrea Lee could only find the deep greenside bunker short of the flag. Minjee fires a dart into around 10 feet from the hole as she looks to extend her early lead.
TWO PARS FOR THE FINAL GROUP ON THE 2ND
Minjee hits a tame birdie putt to 'gimmie' range for a stress-free par. Andrea makes a fantastic sand save from that deep front bunker - a confidence builder for her after a shaky opening bogey.
MINJEE'S SUNDAY RECORD
Seems good. #USWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/KBzrtPIgCJJune 2, 2024
This is good, right? The stats tell the story, and the two-time major winner is strutting her stuff already this afternoon.
THE LEADER FINDS THE SAND ON 3
An uncharacteristic mistake from Minjee Lee as she find the back right bunker on the third after driving into the first cut. The entire green slopes away from her so getting up and down will be a tough task.
Andrea Lee, however, safely finds the front edge of the green.
MINJEE LEE BOGEYS THE THIRD, LEAD DOWN TO ONE
With a near impossible up-and-down from the back bunker, Minjee splashes her sand shot through the green but chips up to a couple of feet.
Andrea Lee had a 25ft putt to tie the lead, but cannot convert.
Minjee taps in for her bogey and the lead is trimmed to one!
ANDREA LEE FINDS THE WATER ON THE 4TH
Disaster for Andrea just moments after trimming the lead to one as she hits her drive on the 4th hole into the water.
Minjee found the same penalty area twice already this week, but stays well away from it, trickling into the rough just left of the fairway.
MORE TROUBLE FOR ANDREA LEE ON THE 4TH
Lee took her penalty drop back 50 yards to try and avoid a hanging tree blocking her approach to the 4th green.
She clatters said tree with her approach, with her ball almost rebounding into the water for a second time, but she makes a great recovery shot from thick rough to give herself a look at a bogey.
Minjee is also in a bit of trouble after missing the green short with her approach - she has 15ft to save par.
SASO FOUR PUTTS ON THE 6TH
Everyone is dropping shots! Up ahead on the 6th, Yuka Saso misses a 4ft par putt, sending it 5ft past. She then misses the returning putt back up the hill for only the forth four putt of her LPGA career.
CLUTCH PAR PUTT FROM MINJEE LEE AS SHE RESTORES HER TWO SHOT LEAD
Wow. A HUGE putt for Minjee as she rakes in a 25-footer for par, moments before Andrea Lee tapped in for a double bogey.
Up ahead, the aforementioned Saso (-1) reels from her 4-putt double bogey and Meechai (-3) finds the water on the 6th.
The lead is back to two and could increase further very shortly.
BIRDIE LOOKS FOR ANDREA AND MINJEE LEE ON THE 5TH
Both ladies are safely aboard the 5th green and have around 15ft looks at birdie.
NIGHTMARE FOR MEECHAI AS SHE CARDS A 6 AT THE PAR 3 6TH
Disaster. After finding the water from the tee, Meechai finds the green but three putts including a 360-degree horseshoe from about 4ft for double bogey.
After a shaky bogey-bogey start, she managed to stabilise her round with three straight pars. It's not very stable now, though.
PARS FOR MINJEE AND ANDREA LEE ON 5
Minjee's birdie putt slips just past the hole, while Andrea's didn't really have a chance. Comfy pars for both ladies in the final group on the 5th.
ANDREA LEE ALMOST FINDS THE WATER, AGAIN.
Andrea Lee almost makes the same mistake as Meechai did on 6 and find the water left of the green. Her tee shot settles in the fringe grass about a yard from the drink, much to her relief.
Minjee left herself a lengthy putt across the green in what was clearly an anti-water shot, which she leaves about 3ft past the pin.
MINJEE LEE BOGEYS THE 6TH, ANDREA SECURES HER PAR
The pin position on 6 is so, so difficult. Minjee hit a great long-range putt, but it slipped 4ft past on the lightning fast greens.
The subtle break catches her out as she lips out with her par attempt, dropping back to -4.
After a stressful tee-shot, Andrea's two putt was largely stress-free as she secures her par to remain at -2.
BIRDIE FOR SHIBUNO ON THE 7TH
Hinako Shibuno, who was +2 for the day, gets her first birdie of the day on the 7th. She moves up to T2 alongside Andrea Lee, two back.
FINAL PAIRING LAY UP ON THE PAR 5 7TH, FIND GREEN
Both Andrea and Minjee Lee lay up on the Par 5 7th hole.
Minjee looks in control so far, but it's worth noting she's missed every fairway so far this afternoon - albeit she's found the first cut on a few occasions.
Both ladies find the green with their wedge shots with Minjee sticking it inside 10 feet. Andrea has a lengthier effort.
NO BIRDIE FOR MINJEE LEE ON 7
Minjee's birdie putt slides by, but she cleans up for par to remain two ahead after Andrea also secured her par. The final pairing remain +4 for the day between them.
Up at the 8th, Saso drains a clutch 12ft par put after an average chip from the front edge left her with a bit of work to do.
ANDREA LEE BOGEYS THE 8TH, MOVES TO +4 FOR THE DAY
After troubles off the tee, Andrea Lee can only muster a bogey on the Par 3 8th. She drops to -1, three behind Minjee, who secured a comfortable par on the same hole.
YUBOL ON THE CHARGE
As the leading pack stumble, Arpichaya Yubol is the hottest player on the golf course. She rolls in a birdie putt on 10 to move to -1, -3 for the day.
Yubol joins Saso, Shibuno and Andrea Lee and a tie for 2nd, three back from leader Minjee Lee.
MINJEE MISSES ANOTHER FAIRWAY, FORCED TO LAY UP ON 9
Minjee Lee's struggles off the tee continue as she finds the left fairway bunker.
Laying too close to the lip to attack the green, she lays up short of the green in the middle of the green after Andrea Lee found the green in regulation.
FINAL THREE GROUPS A COMBINED 19-OVER-PAR ON SUNDAY...
Yes, it's the US Open. It's supposed to be hard. But the final three groups are a combined +19 half way through the final day!
That score could increase very shortly, with Minjee Lee leaving herself a par putt of 20+ feet on 9 after a rather average approach shot with a wedge in hand.
MINJEE LEE BOGEYS THE 9TH
It's a two-over-par front nine for Minjee Lee as she fails to convert her lengthy par putt, but her lead remains at two shots.
Andrea secures her par with a solid two putt from range.
ANDREA LEE HAS A BIRDIE LOOK ON 10
Could this be the turning point for Andrea Lee? She hits a lovely approach into the difficult 10th hole to give herself roughly a 12ft putt to move to -2. It would be her first birdie of the day if she can convert after a four-over-par front nine.
Minjee finds the centre of the green from 130 yards, leaving a tricky task to secure the two putt a remain at -3.
NO BIRDIE FOR ANDREA LEE AT 10, SASO BIRDIES AT 12, MINJEE BOGEYS!
Andrea pulls her birdie putt to the left as she awaits her first birdie of the day.
Up ahead, Yuka Saso holes a birdie putt on the Par 3 to move to two under.
Moments later, Minjee misses a short par putt on 10 to drop to -2! The lead is gone! What a crazy few minutes on a wild Sunday so far at the US Open...
CHARLEY HULL CRACKING JOKES WITH THE MEDIA
Trust us, you won't want to miss the full press conference 👇 pic.twitter.com/3FysqTfrIXJune 2, 2024
Away from the carnage on the golf course, the Charley Hull we know and love is being the Charley Hull we know and love in her post-round presser.
MINJEE LEE'S STRUGGLES CONTINUE, SHIBUNO MAKES A MOVE
As light rain begins to fall at Lancaster Country Club, Minjee misses another fairway. She recovers from the fairway bunker to find the front edge of the 11th green.
Her playing partner Andrea has another good look at birdie from about 14 feet.
Ahead on 12, Shibuno has a smile on her face after holing a lengthy birdie putt to move to -1, one back from Minjee.
MINJEE AND ANDREA LEE PAR 12, SASO IN TIGHT AT 13
A solid up-and-down from the front edge keeps Minjee at -2, while another birdie opportunity passes by for Andrea who is now becoming visibly frustrated.
On 13, Saso sticks a beautiful approach shot to inside six feet! She'll have a putt for the solo lead!
SASO BIRDIES 13, TAKES SOLO LEAD
For the first time today, we have a new leader!
Saso rams home the short birdie putt on 13 to become the solo leader on the back nine of the US Women's Open!
MINJEE LEE FINDS THE WATER ON 12!
What a crazy last 30 minutes this has been.
Moments after losing the solo lead, Minjee Lee finds a watery grave on the infamous Par-3 12th!
ANDREA LEE HOLES LENGTHY BIRDIE PUTT ON 12!
It's all happening here! She's waited all day for one, but finally Andrea Lee can celebrate her first birdie of the day after holing a swinging 25ft putt on the 12th!
MINJEE LEE DOUBLES THE 12TH!
What a swing. Following Andrea Lee's birdie, Minjee makes her two-putt double bogey after dumping her tee shot in the water.
Minjee drops back to even par, three back of Sasom while Andrea is one back at -2.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
Saso gives herself another birdie look on 14 as she looks to make it three birdies on the spin!
SASO MISSES BIRDIE PUTT ON 14
It's not to be for Saso on the 14th, as she fails to convert a swinging birdie putt on the most difficult hole on the golf course today.
Behind her, Andrea Lee hits her approach on 13 to the back fringe but has an outside chance at a bridie to tie level with Saso at -3.
PARS FOR ANDREA AND MINJEE LEE ON 13, SHIBUNO IN TROUBLE ON 14
Minjee cards a two-putt par from 25ft to remain at even par.
Andrea's putt was a better effort, catching the right lip before rolling a few feet by. She stays one back.
Up ahead, Shibuno goes way left from a fairway bunker onto a cart path. She'll need a ruling and has her work cut out to remain at -1, two back of Saso.
ALLY EWING CARDS STUNNING 66, POSTS CLUBHOUSE LEAD
What a round from Ally Ewing. A flawless, bogey-free 66 means she finishes at even par for the tournament to post the leading score in the clubhouse.
It would take five players ahead of her to come backwards for her to have a chance, but this has been a crazy Sunday so far so let's not rule anything out!
SASO BIRDIES, INCREASES LEAD TO TWO SHOTS!
We missed her approach shot due to the commercial break, but Yuka Saso rolls home a short birdie putt on 15 to increase her lead to two!
Three birdies in her last four with the drivable 16th hole up next... she's on a roll and doesn't look like stopping.
PREVIEWING THE DRIVABLE PAR 4 16TH HOLE
In case you missed it, the USGA have moved the tee up on the 16th. It's just 239 yards today and reachable for the majority of the field.
The tournament could well be won or lost on this very hole...
INCREDIBLE PAR SAVE FROM SHIBUNO
Remember we said Shibuno was in trouble? Well, she was... and now she's not.
She takes a free drop from the cart path miles left of the 14th green before pitching onto the green and holing a lengthy par putt for a worldie of a four. She remains -1 and has that signature smile beaming on her face as she leaves the green.
MINJEE LEE STRUGGLING ON 13, FORCED TO TAKE UNPLAYABLE DROP
Again, we missed her tee shot on the coverage due to commercials (annoying, right?), but we are now shown Minjee in heavy rough to the left of the 13th fairway.
To make matters worse, she's playing her third shot - she had to take a penalty drop from even thicker rough to her left. Her US Open race may be ending right here...
ICYMI - SASO'S BIRDIE ON 15
This is how the solo leader increased her lead to two - a ripped iron to inside 10 ft before rolling the rock into the centre of the hole. Saso looks in complete control out there.
SASO DRIVES THE 16TH GREEN!
What. A. Shot.
Saso nails an adrenaline-fuelled 3 wood onto the 16th green after a 10 minute wait on the tee.
That could be the signature shot of the entire tournament!
WORK TO DO FOR SASO ON 16
Saso's eagle putt on 16 had about 10ft of break on it, but Saso leaves her effort short.
She now has a slick tester down the hill to move to -5...
SASO BIRDIES 16!
Never in doubt.
Saso rolls it into the centre of the hole on 16 for a two putt birdie.
Her lead is now three with two holes to play! Name on the trophy?
ANDREA LEE HOLES BIG PAR PUTT ON 15
It's not over yet...
Andrea Lee rolls home a crucial 25ft par putt on 15.
She'll need some magic on 16 to have a chance after Saso easily finds the green on the par 3 17th.
Minjee, however, is too far back. She carded a double bogey on 14 and sits at +2, seven shots back. She stood on the 10th tee with a two shot lead...
STUNNING BACK NINE FROM YUKA SASO
Watching essentially every single player eventually fall victim to this course puts this back nine into perspective. Just an incredible major championship performance. pic.twitter.com/WzCMBdKtJaJune 2, 2024
The tweet says it all.
The theme of the day is all the contenders go backwards, a run of four birdies in five holes from Saso has left the field in her dust. A sensational performance from the 2021 US Open champ.
SASO STUMBLING ON 17...
After a four putt on the front nine, Saso could be staring at another here on 17.
She putt her birdie putt 12 feet past, before sliding her par putt 4 feet past.
Nervy moments for Yuka...
SASO SECURES THE BOGEY, LEAD CUT TO TWO SHOTS
Phew...
Saso walks in her short bogey putt on 17 to drop to -4, two ahead of Andrea Lee.
Lee hit a terrible tee shot on 16, low and left into a fairway bunker before splashing onto the green to around 25ft.
She'll need at least one birdie on the closing three holes to stand any chance.
SASO SAFELY FINDS THE 18TH FAIRWAY
No nerves to been seen on the 18th tee for Saso, who hammers a drive down the right side of the fairway.
She went to pick the tee up before the ball reached it's apex!
ANDREA LEE PARS 16, REMAINS TWO BACK
The birdie putt didn't have a chance, but Andrea Lee cleans up from short range to par the 16th.
It's a missed opportunity for Lee, but after a dreadful tee shot, a par is realistically the best she could have hoped for.
She needs some magic on 17 and 18 with Saso in prime position on the 18th fairway.
ANDREA LEE FINDS THE BUNKER ON 17
Another pretty awful shot from Lee. She's struggled with the left miss all week, but particularly in the last hour or so.
She hooks one into the front left bunker on 17 and turns away in disgust, although the ball is sitting nicely in the sand.
To have a chance, she'll likely have to hole the sand shot.
SASO ROLLS OFF THE FRONT OF THE 18TH GREEN
She landed it on the green, but Saso's ball rolls off the false front of the 18th green.
Relatively straight forward chip up the green left for her.
SASO NAILS THE CHIP
Clutch.
Saso clips a perfect chip shot to about two feet.
The shot of a US Women's Open Champion.
SASO PARS 18, POSTS -4 WITH FINAL ROUND 68
Stunning performance from Saso on this Championship Sunday.
She taps home her par putt on 18 to post -4 which should secure her second US Women's Open title!
ANDREA LEE BOGEYS 17, SASO LEAD NOW THREE SHOTS
Yeah... this is over.
A poor bunker shot from Lee leaves her a lengthy par putt which she can't convert.
She bogeys to fall back to -1.
THE WINNING PUTT
Is that the putt that secures Yuka Saso's Women's US Open victory? 💭 pic.twitter.com/rWQwWnmfWiJune 2, 2024
YUKA SASO WINS THE US WOMEN'S OPEN!
It's officially official! Saso is the 2024 US Women's Open Champion!
ANDREA AND MINJEE LEE COMPLETE THEIR ROUNDS
Andrea Lee bogeys the last and posts a final round 75. Minjee pars to post a final round 78.
Not to be for either woman today...
THANKS FOR FOLLOWING
That's all folks!
Thanks for following along our live text commentary of the final round of the 2024 US Women's Open.
What a win for Yuka Saso, adding to her US Women's Open win in 2021!