Major champion Yuka Saso currently sits 6-under through 36 holes at The Amundi Evian Championship, carding rounds of 67 and 69 on days one and two to put herself in the mix heading into the weekend. The Japan native fired a bogey-free 4-under 67 on Thursday, making three birdies in her last nine holes to tie her lowest first-round score of the 2023 season. She then grounded out an impressive 2-under 69 on Friday after opening with a double bogey and a bogey on her first two holes of the day. Saso made two more bogeys throughout the round but ultimately carded seven birdies to remedy her slow start, including back-to-back birdies on holes 6 and 7 as well as 16 and 17.
It's the first time that the 22-year-old has opened with two rounds in the 60s since the Honda LPGA Thailand in February, and it's only the second time she has recorded back-to-back rounds in the 60s this season, with the last time being at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship where Saso finished solo second. The 2021 U.S. Women's Open champion said that keeping a level head after a poor start was the key to her Friday bounce-back and is looking forward to another shot at a second LPGA Tour title this weekend in Evian-les-Bains.
"First two holes I was already 3-over. Not the start that I was hoping for," Saso said. "I knew that's going to be a tough day, especially with the wind getting stronger in the afternoon and switching completely opposite compared to the first day. So just try to be patient and try to have fun. I'm playing with two great players, and I was able to do that and finish good. Happy where I am and rest a little bit and try to get ready for the weekend."
This is Saso's second start at the Amundi Evian Championship and her 13th event of the 2023 season. She missed the cut in this event last year, and this year, she has earned five top-10 finishes, three of which have come in her previous four starts at the Mizuho Americas Open (T7), KPMG Women's PGA Championship (2) and Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (T3), where Saso played alongside Celine Boutier. While she's been playing incredibly solid golf this summer, Saso said that last week, in particular, was a good boost heading into the challenge of a major championship. Considering that Boutier is also playing well so far this week, it looks like Team "Eiffel Power" will be at least two of the players duking it out for the Amundi Evian Championship title over the weekend.
"I don't know if (Celine is) happy. I don't know. But me, yes, I'm very happy," Saso said. "I really enjoy playing with her and obviously she's a multiple LPGA winner and just a very nice person. I hang out with her sometimes. Yeah, I think (the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational) was a good week for me."
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