x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
U.S. Women’s Open champion has priceless reaction to her newfound LPGA membership
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Over $140 of value - Just $39.99

InsideGOLF
News

U.S. Women’s Open champion has priceless reaction to her newfound LPGA membership

By: Rachel Bleier
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
June 7, 2021
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Yuka Saso has a lot to celebrate after winning the U.S. Women's Open.

Yuka Saso has a lot to celebrate after winning the U.S. Women's Open.

Getty Images

For Yuka Saso, coming from behind to win the U.S. Women’s Open was no small task. The 19-year-old clawed her way back after a disastrous start and dueled with Nasa Hataoka in a three-hole playoff just to be able to lift the U.S. Women’s Open trophy on Sunday. 

For all her effort, however, Saso will be handsomely rewarded — and not just with a big trophy and a bigger paycheck ($1 million, to be exact).

Saso, a member of the Japanese LPGA Tour (JLPGA), did not have status on the LPGA Tour at the beginning of the week. In fact, she got into the field at Olympic Club through her world ranking, as the top 75 players were exempt. Making the most of her second start in an LPGA event, her win also awarded her a full five-year membership on the LPGA Tour.

Features
sophia popov rolls putt
Surprise major-winner Sophia Popov confronting an unexpected dilemma
By: James Colgan

While it might seem logical that the winner of a major championship would also be allowed to become a full member on the premier women’s golf tour in the world, that wasn’t the case just a year ago when Sophia Popov won the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Troon. 

If you recall, Popov, who was not a member of the LPGA Tour at the time of her win, thought she had earned the priceless bonus of a five-year LPGA exemption, but that was not the case. At the time of her win, the LPGA’s rules stated that only major winners who are current LPGA members are eligible for the five-year exemption. Popov, who had already played on the LPGA Tour but lost her status for 2020 by falling a shot short at Q-Series, was only eligible for a two-year exemption. 

“I definitely got a little frustrated about the whole thing,” Popov told GOLF.com at the time. “It’s tough because I feel like I deserve the full five years of exemption.”

Popov’s frustration and the ensuing controversy did not go unnoticed. Although then-LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan stood by the decision to offer Popov a two-year exemption per the tour’s existing regulations, the LPGA voted to change its rules. Now known as the “Popov Rule,” non-member winners receive the full five-year exemption, something Saso found out following her win on Sunday at Olympic Club. 

Surprise, Yuka!

You've earned your LPGA card 🙌pic.twitter.com/2VN3apsTnJ

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) June 7, 2021

Saso, surprised by the fact that she had earned her full LPGA Tour card, wasn’t sure what her decision would be at the time of her press conference Sunday night, saying “I’m going to talk to my dad and my family about it.” 

About an hour later, news percolated through the media center that Saso had accepted her LPGA membership. 

To the victor go the spoils, Yuka. 

Latest In News

3 hours ago

2025 PGA Championship streaming: How to watch the PGA at Quail Hollow online

3 hours ago

2025 PGA Championship Thursday tee times: Round 1 groupings

14 hours ago

PGA Championship's 10 most intriguing tee times, ranked

14 hours ago

Rory McIlroy’s handmade ball markers have fascinating backstory

generic profile image

Rachel Bleier

Golf.com Editor

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
Lexi Thompson plays a bunker shot during the 2021 U.S. Women's Open

U.S. Women's Open qualifying sites include 4 past major championship venues

By: Josh Schrock
News
The U.S. Women’s Open Trophy at Lancaster Country Club.

Their two U.S. Women's Opens were hits, now Lancaster Country Club wants more

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Mel Reid

This breakout star at U.S. Women’s Open made golf fans smarter

By: Sean Zak
News
Bob MacIntyre, Dougie MacIntyre, Amanda Balionis.

Bob MacIntyre WDs for epic party, shows us something special | Monday Finish

By: Dylan Dethier
News
Rose Zhang of the United States plays her shot from the third tee during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally at Lancaster Country Club

The other winner at U.S. Women’s Open didn’t hit a single shot

By: Michael Bamberger
News
Yuka Saso after winning the U.S. Women's Open

She won the U.S. Women's Open. Her gestures afterward also were telling

By: Claire Rogers
News
nelly korda yuka saso and robert macintyre

Tour Confidential: Women's Open surprises, Bob Mac's win with Dad

By: GOLF Editors
News
Yuka Saso celebrates after winning the U.S. Women's Open.

Yuka Saso four-putted. Then she won the U.S. Women's Open

By: Jack Hirsh
News
andrea lee reacts to missed putt at U.S. Women's Open

On U.S. Women's Open Sunday, full range of emotions on display

By: Zephyr Melton
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version