Pak Breaks Slump. Posts Top-10 Finish

Pak Se-ri (29, CJ) dug out of a slump that lasted for quite some time and had an uplifting moment that has been so rare for her recently. Making the upper tenth in the LPGA Tour’s Ginn Clubs and Resort Open, Pak gained back the lost confidence of the past two years. Pak could not have been happier for her friend Kim Mi-hyeon’s victory at the same event.

It’s all coming back now-

Through an interview held at her home in Orland, Pak said she sympathized with Kim’s tears after she had won the game. “Her win gave me hope that I too, could soon bring good news to my fans in Korea,” said Pak. Pak admitted that she once worried that the first generation of Korean LPGA contenders like Kim and herself might get pushed off by the talented newcomers freshly landing on the shore. Pak also expressed envy toward the fact that Kim’s boy friend flew in to give his girlfriend emotional support, saying, “For the past couple of years, I wish there were someone other than my parents to be by my side giving me courage.”

Waiting for someone special-

Pak shyly admitted that she has no one special right now, and all that could wait until her career is back on track. The secret to her success at the recent event was the great deal of improvement she has made in putting the ball on the fairway. Pak took a leap from her average 40 percent fairway landing ratio to 70%. “Trying to hit a straight shot with fade driver resulted in lots of off shots. I stopped trying to force things and tackled the game to fit my driving style and the course, which gave a favorable result,” said Pak.

The first generation LPGA contender hopes to make a comeback-

Pak also showed interest in the SK Telecom Open where Michelle Wie will compete against male pros. “I know Kim Dae-seop quite well. There’s no doubt he would feel the heat on his back playing in the same group as Michelle. It will be interesting.” Pak herself has participated in men’s pro events, once achieving a tie for 10th in KPGA Tour’s SBS Championship in October 2003.

Pak is scheduled to rest for the week and enter Michelob Ultra Open next week.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com