Hall of Fame member Se Ri Pak retires this week
Class of 2007 World Golf Hall of Fame member Se Ri Pak is playing in her final LPGA event this week after announcing in March time would be her final season on tour.
Pak said: “I’ve done everything I can do as a professional, as a golfer”.
She also stated that she felt incomplete as a person as she had always focused on her golf.
“Life not all about winning, losing, practicing and then winning, losing, practicing,” Pak said. “It’s balance, feeling right balance. It’s practicing life. I’m still developing myself, and I’m so far behind.”
Over her expansive career Pak notched up 5 major championships, 20 LPGA tour wins, 14 LPGA of Korean tour wins and being part of two successful teams at the Lexus Cup.
Se Ri’s first major win came in her rookie year 1998, where she won the McDonald’s LPGA Championship by three shots, she also went onto win the US Open in the same year after a playoff.
A great battle of resilience was shown when she won the Women’s British Open at Sunningdale in 2001. Going into the final round Pak was four shots behind the leader but an eagle on the first hole set her up for the day to shoot a 66 (-6) for the day and finish two shots clear to lift the trophy.
Pak was one contender you wouldn’t want to find yourself against in a playoff with a 6-0 record. One of these wins was over Karrie Webb for the McDonald’s LPGA Championship and a three way payoff against Suzann Pettersen and Brittany Lincicome for the Bell Micro LPGA Classic in 2010 which she clinched victory on the third extra hole.
Since Pak hit the golf scene with amazing success she inspires and became a role model for girls playing golf in South Korea. This help bring a wave of new talent to the sport and highlights their dominance on the tour.
With players like Inbee Park, Mirim Lee, Na Yeon Choi and In Gee Chun making their mark Pak’s legacy will live on for years to come.
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