Before choosing the side of Japan, Saso has been representing the Philippine flag in international settings including the Asian Games and the Tokyo Olympics and became the first Filipino to win a major golf tournament when she ruled the U.S. Women’s Open.

But that won’t be the case anymore.

Japan does not allow dual citizenship and that’s why Saso was pushed to the edge to choose between being a Filipino or a Japanese. Saso chose the latter, but that does not mean that she’s not a Filipino anymore, at least by heart.

“Yuka Saso was born and raised in the Philippines and will always be a Filipino,” ICTSI said in a statement.

“ICTSI respects Yuka’s choice of citizenship. Our support for her goes beyond her citizenship preference because of her outstanding talent and achievements.”

While Saso expressed her gratitude to all her supporters especially to all the Filipinos that believed in her.

“I am immensely proud of my dual heritage and that will never change,” Saso said.