Will Pak Se-ri Smile Again?

The question is who will be the winner of the last major tournament of the season?

The 2004 Weetabix Women’s British Open (purse of $1.6 million) will start on July 29 at Sunningdale Golf Club, Berkshire, England. Fifteen Korean players will play in this tournament, which is this year’s last LPGA major tournament. Let’s look at the points to watch in this tournament.

Will the Ruined “Magic Princess,” Se-ri, Revive Her Magic?—

Pak placed 68th with an awful score of 13-over par 301 at last week’s Evian Masters, which took place in Evian-les-Bains, France, prior to the Women’s British Open. To add insult to injury, Pak had four double-bogeys for the first time since she turned pro. She has been unable to make it to the top-10 for the seventh consecutive time after winning the Michelob Ultra Open in May.

Nevertheless, Pak has a special bond with the Women’s British Open. She won the tournament in 2001 and last year she was a runner-up to Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), by a stroke. In particular, Sunningdale Golf Club is the same place where she won the tournament three years ago. Although Pak’s father, Pak Jun-chul (53), said, “We decided to take this year off,” Pak might regain her confidence through this tournament.

Who are the Contenders?—

Annika Sorenstam, who is virtually unrivaled, is first on the contenders’ list. Despite the fact that she finished second at the Evian Masters, the prelude to the British Open, due to Australia’s Wendy Doolan’s amazing shots, she proved that she is the world’s best.

The defending champion, Sorenstam, who has achieved a career grand slam (winning all four major tournaments) by winning last year’s Women’s British Open, will be one tough opponent to beat. In addition, she leads this season’s money list by earning $1.63 million and has the year’s lowest average score of 68.98.

Hometown favorite “Long Driver” Laura Davis (England) and Lorena Ochoa (Mexico), who has the second lowest scoring average of 70.09, Nabisco champion Park Ji-eun (Nike Golf), and U.S. Open heroine Meg Mallon (U.S.) are some of the players who will challenge Sorenstam.

When Will Kim Mi-hyun Marry?—

Kim has managed to place in the top-10 10 times out of the 16 tournaments in which she played. Not only does she lead in top-10 finishes among Korean players, but also she is the co-leader of the LPGA with Sorenstam and Ochoa, who have also finished in the top-10 10 times.

The problem, however, is that she has not won a single tournament. She wants to win this tournament, saying, “My parents told me I could get married if I win the tournament.” Kim, who lacked two percent to win, had her best finish at the British Open in 2001, when she finished second right behind Pak Se-ri.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com