Start of Survival Game Against Nature

Overcome the hardships posed on the field!

The last major of this season, British Women`s Open got started yesterday in U.K. 144 top-notch players including 12 Korean pro golfers are competing with each other for four days.

Hee-Won Han, who did her tee-off in the morning, is one-birdie and 1-under up to the fifth hole.

Grace Park, on the other hand, is 3-over up to the sixth hole in the first round against Karrie Webb (Australia) and Lora Davis (U.K.). In the first hole, she hit a birdie, but committed bogeys in third, fourth and sixth hole.

2001 champion Se Ri Pak, now in her top condition, got off to a start. To compensate for her disappointing performance at majors this year, she is determined to win this major.

Winning this title means winning over the tough environmental conditions. The course is dotted with swishing wind, deep roughs and 196 bunkers. Even the best pro golfers spewed out complaints after practice.

Defending champion Webb, who has won this title three times already, said, "It feels totally new to us. Our imagination and patience will be tested. With the accuracy lowered, we have to pay a huge price."

Even the powerful Davis, who is familiar with the course, said, "Victory depends on accuracy. To win, you have to avoid bunkers. Everything depends on the sophisticated course management."

Juli Inkster (USA), who could achieve the Super Grand Slam if she wins the title this time, "If the wind blows 40km an hour, we will have a hard time calculating the distance. The winner will be even par, I guess."

In the meanwhile, the biggest gambling company Red Brooks predicts that Annika Sorenstam has the highest chance of winning the title. Inskster ranks the second on the list, and Pak follows. Park and Han are put on the sixth spot.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com