Reversal After Reversal, Se-Ri`s Confidence Wins the Game

Pak Se-Ri was doubtlessly strong in crisis. Pak Se-Ri started the last round with three strokes leads, but she could not feel secure for a second as Sorenstam followed just behind her. Sorenstam, who had been fell behind with 10 strokes off in the same game last year, played unbelievable catch-the-lead plays, and had taken the top after competing with Kim Mi-Hyon in an extension game.

Sorenstam is a consistent player as it is evidenced that 11 titles among a total of 33 titles she won were turn-around games. It seems that this consistent side of Sorenstam is likely to replay in the early parts of the game. While Pak bogeyed the second and third holes due to the bad putts, Sorenstam birdied the fourth and the fifth to earn a share of the lead. But Pak Se-Ri would not let go preys when she smells victory as her nickname "hunting dog" suggests. Pak survived the ordeal with back-to-back birdies in the sixth and seventh holes and took a joint lead with Sorenstam till the eleventh hole, but finally Pak took the sole lead in the 12th hole leaving behind Sorenstam who bogeyed with three putts. The game is in fact decided in the 13th (par 4) when Pak took the two strokes lead with the birdie as she placed the ball 2.5 meter distance to the cup with a second shot backspin which has done in 124 yard distance.

Pak played stable games throughout the rest of the games to finally kiss the trophy, as she was sure of the title while Sorenstam has shown a destabilizing appearance. Pak Se-Ri`s confidence overcame the "iron lady" Sorenstam.

By taking the title of this game Pak emerged as an only alternative to counter the sole dominance of Sorenstam. Sorenstam may have taken three titles out of five tournaments in the season if she had also taken this title, which would have made her a dominant player.

Pak Se-Ri`s prospect for the season seems to be brighter as she showed good shot senses and crisis countering capacity while overcoming a very difficult course in which only six golfers recorded under par final scores. Pak Se-Ri, who is confident that she may have better records this season than the last year`s five wins, is determined to charge ahead to achieve back-to-back wins and a second title defense in Longs Drugs Challenge which opens on April 19.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com