Se-Ri, `For Youngest Grand Slammer`

``In the future, nobody can talk about the world of women`s golf without including Pak Se-Ri as well as Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb.``

As Pak Se-Ri (24 Samsung Electronics) won the title of the Womens British Open by the dramatic reverse, a foreign news agency headlined like above.

In the Women`s British Open, the last major tournament this year, Pak earned her third major title following the 1998 LPGA Championship and the 1998 US Open. She showed very impressive play in the fourth round, starting the first hole with an eagle and finishing last two holes with the consecutive birdies.

If Pak can win the remaining major title, the Nabisco Championship within three years, she will become the glorious youngest grand slammer exceeding the current record holder, Webb (27, Australia).

Pak certainly constituted one pillar of troika system with Sorenstam (31, Sweden) and Webb and obtained the confidence in this tournament.

Pak said in the interview after winning the title, ``For sure, I will earn 4 wins every year.`` It was the interview full of confidence, which she has usually not shown.

Winning the title of the season opening tournament, Vitamins Classic, Pak established the ambitious goal sweeping the prize ranking No.1, the wins ranking No.1 and the golfer of the year.

She is running up the leader ($1,248,535) in the prize ranking over Sorenstam ($1,245,696) and Webb ($1,160,659). Although she recorded 4 titles this year, one title behind Sorenstam, she will be likely to earn 2 or 3 more wins in the remaining season if she can maintain the current pace.

Such a forecast can be more plausible because of the existence of her caddy Colin Cann who has been in fantastic harmony. Pak told in the interview that ``Cann who is accustomed to the English golf course was a big help to select the club and to attack the pin.``

Meanwhile, the world best golf magazine, `Golf Digest` surveyed in its homepage, ``Who`s the best woman in 2001?`` Pak Se-Ri (48.4 percent) is overwhelmingly leading over Sorenstam (29.0 percent) and Webb (22.6 percent). This shows clearly the prestige of Pak enjoyed in the World of Women`s golf.

Ahn Young-Sik ysahn@donga.com