Yuka Saso

In June last year became the first golfer from the Philippines to lift a major trophy, beating Nasa Hataoka at the third play-off hole in the US Women's Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco after Lexi Thompson had lost a five-stroke lead on the final day. Amazingly, at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days she was exactly the same age as Inbee Park when she became the championship’s youngest-ever winner in 2008.It was her maiden LPGA Tour success and came three years after she won individual and team honours at the Asian Games.

With a Filipina mother and Japanese father she held dual citizenship and competed for the Philippines in last year’s Olympics, but in accordance with Japanese law was obliged to choose between them by her 22nd birthday and announced in November she would be competing for Japan in the future. Had a runner-up to Jodi Ewart Shadoff on the LPGA in October which was her first top 10 finish since January.