Thursday June 29, 2006
Korean glory beckons at the US Women’s Open
NEWPORT (Rhode Island): When Pak Se-ri won the 1998 US Women’s Open as a rookie she was a lone South Korean on the LPGA Tour.
She sparked a revolution in the women’s game in her country, however, and is one of 18 Koreans in the 156-strong field in the US Open starting at Newport Country Club today.
SAND BLASTER: Michelle Wie hits out of the bunker onto the fourth green during a practice round at the US Women’s Open golf championship in Newport, Rhode Island on Tuesday. – REUTERSpic There have been 13 winners of the 15 tournaments on Tour this season, and eight have been South Koreans, including the last four.
Se-ri, returning from injury and poor form, made her contribution when she beat Australia’s Karrie Webb in a playoff for the most recent major, the LPGA Championship, two weeks ago.
When you add Birdie and Jang Jeong (Women’s British Open) to the mix, it means Koreans hold three of the four majors titles.
Se-ri, still just 28 and with five majors and 23 titles on her resume, is seen by her compatriots as the player who showed them what was possible.
“When other Korean players say they are here because of me I feel great,” said Se-ri, who comes from Seoul but lives in Florida.
“I am pleased that I have maybe shown that Koreans can win on the LPGA Tour. It’s nice to be thought of as a leader.”
As Se-ri points out, it is immeasurably easier for the new generation – there are 32 Koreans on the LPGA tour and another 36 on the US Futures Tour – to adapt to life on Tour.
Se-ri recalled the season eight years ago when she set out as a 20-year-old pioneer and won four titles and two majors in a spectacular rookie season.
“It was tough. I was really all on my own, couldn’t speak English and found it difficult to handle everything,” she said. “There was pressure on me every week.
“The new players have it much easier. They have lots of Korean friends and so feel much more comfortable out here (in America). They are very lucky.” – Reuters
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