A devastated Minjee Lee has to vowed to “come back stronger” after squandering a golden chance to capture her third career major at the US Women’s Open.

The Australian and world No.9 fell apart on the back nine in the final round at Lancaster Country Club, while Japan’s Yuka Saso skated through to a clutch win and second major title.

Perth’s Lee began the final round tied for the lead and at one point had pulled three shots ahead. She took a two-shot lead into the back nine, but capitulated with an eight-over 78. Saso (68) produced a barrage of late birdies to win by three shots at Lancaster, an hour west of Philadelphia. Saso finished at four-under-par 276, with fellow Japan star Hinako Shibuno (72) runner-up. American duo Andrea Lee (75) and Ally Ewing (66) shared third at even-par. Lee fell to a tie for ninth at three-over.

Saso’s bid looked over early in the round when she four-putted for double bogey on the sixth to fall four shots behind Lee. But the 28-year-old Lee unravelled after a three-putt bogey on the 10th. At the par-3 12th, the 2022 US Women’s Open champion rinsed her tee shot en route to a double-bogey. Another double-bogey came at the 14th, officially ending Lee’s hopes of a second US Open, a feat only achieved by the great Karrie Webb among Australian golfers.

“I started good. Felt like I hit it pretty good; just missed a couple putts for birdie early and then I kind of blew up from there,” Lee said. “I did a lot of good things but obviously didn’t play very well today and I’m disappointed that I didn’t do better. Obviously I’m going to acknowledge my disappointment and then come back stronger, take the positives out of the week. It’s a lot of pressure on the last day, so it wasn’t my best performance but I’m sure there will be many better performances ahead.”

Hannah Green tied for 16th at five-over after a final-round 66, the equal low round of the championship.

Lee will need to regather in time for the final three majors of the year and the Olympics in Paris, where she will join Green in representing Australia for the second time after teaming up in Tokyo in 2021.

The Filipino-born Saso won the 2021 US Women’s Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. At 22 years, 11 months and 13 days, Saso is the youngest player in history to win two Women’s US Open titles, and the first ever to win two majors representing different countries.

“It feels great,” an emotional Saso said. “Winning in 2021 representing the Philippines, I feel like I was able to give back to my mum. And this year I was able to represent Japan and I think I was able to give back to my dad. So I’m very happy that I was able to do it. It’s just a wonderful feeling that I was able to give back to my parents.”

Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour, Adam Scott tied for 42nd at the Canadian Open in his quest to remain inside the world’s top 60 who are invited to the US Open. World No.58 Scott will attempt to gain automatic entry on Monday (US time) when he tees up in US Open qualifying in Springfield, Ohio. He will be among 64 players competing for four US Open spots.

Aaron Baddeley and Harrison Endycott missed the cut in Canada.

Aussie results around the world tours, courtesy of Australian Golf Media:

US Women’s Open
Lancaster Country Club, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
1          Yuka Saso                    68-71-69-68—276       $US2.4m
T-9        Minjee Lee                   70-69-66-78—283       $271,732.67
T-16      Hannah Green              76-71-72-66—285       $161,840.67
T-29      Sarah Kemp                 75-72-72-70—289       $68,873.14
T-51      Gabriela Ruffels           75-73-75-70—293       $26,209
T-58      Amelia Garvey (NZ)      76-71-74-73—294       $23,035.89
MC       Lydia Ko (NZ)                80-73—153
MC       Steph Kyriacou             77-76—153
MC       Keeley Marx (a)            76-81—157

PGA Tour
RBC Canadian Open
Hamilton Golf & Country Club, Hamilton, Ontario
1          Robert MacIntyre         64-66-66-68—264       $US1.692m
T-7        Ryan Fox (NZ)               66-64-70-70—270       $295,317
T-42      Adam Scott                  70-69-70-69—278       $29,986
MC       Aaron Baddeley           77-71—148
MC       Harrison Endycott        72-79—151

DP World Tour
European Open
Green Eagle Golf Courses, Hamburg, Germany
1          Laurie Canter                68-66-73-72—279       €392,765.45
T-65      Daniel Hillier (NZ)         77-70-77-77—301       €5,660.44
MC       Haydn Barron               77-71—148
MC       Jason Scrivener            75-76—151
MC       Sam Jones (NZ)            76-75—151
MC       David Micheluzzi          74-78—152

Ladies European Tour
Dormy Open Helsingborg
Allerum Golf Club, Sweden
1          Perrine Delacour          68-70-67—205 €45,000
T-5        Kirsten Rudgeley          69-71-67—207 €11,200
T-64      Momoka Kobori (NZ)   75-70-74—219 €885
MC       Amy Walsh                   73-76—149

Korn Ferry Tour
UNC Health Championship
Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh, North Carolina
1          Kaito Onishi                 68-69-69-66—272       $US180,000
T-38      Rhein Gibson               72-70-66-73—281       $4,915
MC       Brett Drewitt                71-72—143
MC       Dimi Papadatos           66-77—143

PGA Tour Champions
Principal Charity Classic
Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa
1          Ernie Els                       62-68-65—195 $US300,000
T-3        Rod Pampling              65-65-69—199 $120,000
T-6        Vijay Singh (FIJ)             64-68-68—200 $76,000
T-8        Steven Alker (NZ)         67-68-66—201 $60,000
T-10      David Bransdon           68-68-66—202 $50,000
T-12      Stuart Appleby             68-69-66—203 $38,400
T-12      Steve Allan                   69-66-68—203 $38,400
T-18      Michael Wright            67-70-68—205 $23,844
T-27      Richard Green              70-69-67—206 $16,600
T-32      Cameron Percy             66-69-72—207 $12,133
T-41      David McKenzie           70-70-68—208 $8,800
T-47      John Senden                70-69-70—209 $6,400