Apr 29 (NHK) - Japanese pro golfer Saigo Mao has clinched her first major overseas tournament in the United States, sinking a birdie putt to beat four rivals in a one-hole playoff.
The 23-year-old Saigo was named rookie of the year on the US tour last year. She became the fifth Japanese female golfer to win a major overseas tournament and the first since Furue Ayaka's victory in France in July of last year.
Saigo started Sunday's final round tied atop the leaderboard with a South Korean golfer at the Chevron Championship held in the state of Texas. But she ended tied with four others at seven under par. It was the first major ladies' tournament of the year in the US.
Saigo started off with a bogey on the first hole of the final round, but played a tenacious game the rest of the way.
Trailing by one shot to start the 18th hole, Saigo sank a birdie putt on the par-5 hole.
Her score for the round was two shots higher than the previous day but was good enough to make the playoff with the four others at seven under.
She returned to the 18th for the first hole of the playoff and hit her tee shot onto the fairway. She then landed her third shot from the side of the green with the ball near the pin, and completed the hole as the only player to score a birdie.
