What is Mao Saigo's ethnicity?

Mao Saigo, who won the 2025 Chevron Championship and is making strides in the ongoing ShopRite LPGA Classic, is Japanese by ethnicity. Born and raised in Funabashi City, located in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, Saigo is one of Japan’s brightest young talents in golf.

She was born on October 8, 2001, to Masashi Saigo, the CEO of an IT company CEO and golf enthusiast, and Sakae Saigo, her mother, who played an active role in her upbringing and supported her through her early career. Her father, a fan of Japanese golf legend Jumbo Ozaki, introduced her to the sport at the age of five, taking her to the golf course regularly. Ozaki later trained Saigo in her initial career.

Growing up, she admired Yuri Fudoh, a prominent name on the JLPGA Tour. Saigo joined Mizuno Golf Academy in grade 4 and later attended Reitaku High School, followed by Nihon Wellness Sports University, where she continued to develop her game.

She secured her LPGA Tour card after finishing T2 at the final stage of Q-School in 2023. Her strong performances extended to the global stage, with top-10 finishes at three of the five women’s majors, including a T3 at the 2022 Evian Championship.

In April 2025, Mao Saigo won her first major title at the Chevron Championship, marking a major breakthrough in her international career. She continued her form in the recently included U.S. Women's Open where she finished T4 in the final leaderboard.

How has Mao Saigo played in the 2025 season so far?

Mao Saigo has played in ten events so far this season, recording four top-10 finishes and one win. She is currently ranked third in the CME Points Standings.

Mao Saigo at the 2025 U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally - Third Round - Source: Imagn

She started the year with a T28 finish at the Founders Cup with a 5-under par score, followed by a T33 at the Honda LPGA Thailand with 6-under. At the HSBC Women’s World Championship, she tied for 11th at 5-under, then posted an impressive T5 finish at the Blue Bay with 6-under.

Saigo missed the cut at the Ford Championship after finishing 5-over. She bounced back with a T9 at the T-Mobile Match Play (8-under) but finished solo 68th at the JM Eagle LA Championship (4-under).

She claimed her first LPGA major title at the Chevron Championship, winning at 7-under par. After that, she finished T31 at the Black Desert Championship (10-under) and T4 at the U.S. Women’s Open (4-under).

Saigo is currently playing in her 11th start of the season at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, where she sits T2 after two rounds, with scores of 67 and 65 (10-under total).