Yuka Saso smiles during a practice round at the Seta Golf Course in Shiga Prefecture, central Japan, on Nov. 3, 2021. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Yuka Saso, a dual citizen of Japan and the Philippines who in June became the second teenager to win the U.S. Women's Open, revealed Wednesday she would select Japanese citizenship.

       Saso, who competes on Japan's women's tour and who represented the Philippines in this summer's Tokyo Olympics, broke the news at a press conference ahead of this week's Toto Japan Classic in Shiga Prefecture.

       "It's true that I have selected Japanese citizenship," said the 20-year-old. "I've been thinking that I'd choose Japanese citizenship."

       Saso is the child of a Japanese father and a Filipino mother and grew up in both countries.

       "Whichever I choose, I'm both Japanese and Filipino," she said.

       Japanese law demands Japanese holding dual citizenship must choose one by their 22nd birthday.

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