Pak Aims for Grand Slam

The McDonald’s Championship, the second major tournament of the LPGA tour this season, kicked off at the Bulle Rock golf course (par 72) in Havre De Grace, Maryland on June 7.

Many people are interested in the tournament because it is a major tourney, it will determine the qualifications for the hall of fame for Pak Se-ri, and because of the withdrawal of Michelle Wie (Nike Golf) due to an alleged injury.

Before the tournament began, Pak ambitiously announced two goals: achieving a grand slam by taking a share of the lead in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, and becoming a player-of- the-year. In 2001 she had five wins, but the award went to Annika Sorenstam (Sweden).

Pak has been the runner up player-of-the year four times. She said, “I’m the rookie in the hall of fame. I’ll play like a rookie in this tournament.”

Michelle Wie withdrew with two holes left in the first round of the LPGA Ginn Tribute golf tournament due to a wrist injury, and increasingly her reputation is taking a beating. She is also being criticized for practicing for the pro-am with her allegedly injured wrist. When people started talking about Wie, who was inconsiderate to her partner Alena Sharp and had an argument with her, Wie said, “She was being unreasonable. I’m the victim here.” Her remarks did not earn any sympathy from people. She also said, “I’m under a lot of stress because the Stanford admissions process is underway.” Reporters who were covering the tournament also raised doubts about her injury and said, “She kept massaging her right wrist not the injured wrist.”

Michelle Wie’s father Wie Byong-wook said to Korean reporters, “My family members are all under a lot of stress. My daughter is hurt, too.”

kjs0123@donga.com