Pak, Hall of Famer Is Enjoying Her Heyday

Foreign news reports introduced Pak Se-ri (CJ) with the impressive title “hall of famer” yesterday. After officially earning this glorious title, Pak won yet another U.S. LPGA tournament last week in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, becoming a five-time winner at the same tournament along with legends Wright and Sorenstam.

Sema Sports Marketing, which is in charge of Park’s management, is scheduled to present a skins game to celebrate Pak’s joining the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame. The local organizer of the invitational tournament will invite three LPGA star golfers to pit them against Pak. The tournament will be held at the Sky 72 Golf course in Incheon.

With her contract with CJ running out at the end of this year, Pak has recently received love calls from several conglomerates. Given that she entered into a contract with CJ for 15 million dollars for five years and her prolonged slump, many prospect that CJ is unlikely to extend the contract. Armed with her recent good record, however, she still will command a high sponsorship price.

Pak is going to compete this week in the 2007 HSBC Women’s World Match Play Championship at the Wykagyl Country Club, New Rochelle, N.Y, from July 19-21. The HSBC Championship will offer a $2,000,000 purse with a $500,000 first place paycheck, which is a large first place prize. The field of 64 players, including as many as 21 Korean players, will compete in 18 hole elimination match play rounds. Pak is scheduled to face American player Beth Bader in the first round.

kjs0123@donga.com