Professional Golfer Mao Saigo Looking Back on Her Breakthrough 2025 Major-Winning Season

Professional golfer Mao Saigo, who is affiliated with Shimadzu Corporation, had a highly successful 2025 season on the U.S. LPGA Tour, the world’s premier circuit for women’s golf. In April 2025, she claimed her first major title at the Chevron Championship. In June, at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, she achieved an albatross—one of the rarest feats in professional golf. Here, we highlight Saigo’s achievements during the 2025 season, which attracted widespread attention both in Japan and internationally.

 

 

What is the LPGA Tour, where the World’s Top Players Compete?

The LPGA Tour (U.S. Women’s Golf) is the pinnacle of women’s golf, featuring around 30 tournaments held worldwide from January through November.

Participation in the tour requires a “tour card.” Only players who meet specific criteria—such as finishing near the top in qualifying tournaments, achieving excellent results on the tour in the previous year, or holding a high world ranking—are eligible to compete.

In addition to regular tournaments held almost every week, the LPGA Tour includes five major championships each year. These majors offer significantly higher points and prize money, and include events such as the Chevron Championship, which Saigo won this season, as well as the U.S. Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s Open (Women’s British Open).

Making Good on Her Promise! Victory at the Chevron Championship, the First Major of the Season!

The final round of the Chevron Championship in April 2025 turned into a closely fought battle, with several players tied for the lead. Saigo secured the title in commanding fashion by making the only birdie on the first playoff hole.

By earning her first LPGA Tour victory at a major championship, Saigo became the fifth Japanese woman to win a major title.

At the beginning of the season, Saigo sent a message, “In the 2025 season, I want to achieve my first victory on the U.S. tour and deliver good news to everyone. I will do my best, and I appreciate your support.” She went on to make good on exactly those words.

Achieving an Albatross—Rarer than a Hole-in-One!

At the ShopRite LPGA Classic in June, Saigo holed her second shot from 214 yards (approximately 195 meters) on a par-5 hole during the second round. This remarkable shot resulted in an albatross.

While professional golfers are said to record a hole-in-one roughly once every few thousand attempts, an albatross is estimated to occur only once in about one million attempts.

In golf, the winner is the player with the lowest total score over 18 holes. Each hole has a standard number of strokes known as “par.” One stroke over par is called a bogey, one under par a birdie, two under par an eagle, and three under par is called an albatross.

An albatross is achieved on a par-5 hole by sinking the second shot directly into the cup. It is a feat that requires a rare combination of favorable hole conditions, exceptional driving distance, and outstanding second-shot accuracy.

Throughout the season, Saigo demonstrated her strong presence on the world’s biggest stage, including finishing in the top 10 on six occasions.

Sharing Joy with Employees! Scenes from the Season Debriefing Session

In December 2025, a season debriefing session was held at Shimadzu Corporation’s Head Office in Kyoto, where Saigo took part in Shimadzu’s employee gathering. She shared reflections on the season, episodes from tournaments, and her goals for the future. During the event, she also answered questions submitted in advance by employees and received a bouquet of flowers. The event also featured a fun putting challenge with Saigo, which proved to be an especially enjoyable time for employees who had supported her throughout the year.

We interviewed her about the tournaments and events that left the greatest impression on her as she reflected on the season.

Employees also asked a wide range of questions, ranging from technical aspects of her play to mental preparation, as well as about jumping into the pond after her Chevron Championship victory. When asked, “What do you think about when taking a shot with a driver?” she said, “To maintain focus, I put the actions I’m about to take into words and line them up in my mind,” which employees listened to intently, their expressions showing surprise.

In a putting event called “Four-Player Simultaneous Putting Challenge,” Saigo joined teams of three employees, with all four players attempting to hole their putts simultaneously. Deciding where to position Saigo was part of each team’s strategy. The pressure of being watched by spectators, coupled with playing alongside pro Saigo, led all teams to fail the challenge.

Messages of support also arrived from employees across the country who were unable to attend in person, and the session concluded with a commemorative photo.

Shimadzu Corporation will continue to support and cheer on Mao Saigo in her future golf endeavors.

Comment from Mao Saigo at the Season Debriefing Session