Her tournament ended, Se Ri Pak, but come back after Monday, walking inside the ropes to land on the east of Broadmoor as a mother after her cubs.In 1998, Pak became the first golfer from South Korea to win the U.S. Women 's Open. Thirteen years later, he watched Hee Kyung Seo, his compatriot, so Yeon Ryu, and make another kind of story, as you square the first international full 66 Open the playoffs. Ryu, who started golf seriously in the same week, Pak won the 1998 title, in Wisconsin, made two birdies in three playoff holes to win Seo three shots. When the last putt dropped, Ryu was the champagne sprayed from Pak. It 'was the effect that his first major title - in fact, her first LPGA Tour victory - all the more intoxicating. "And 'Ri is my hero," said Ryu. "Now you look at me and good luck for me, is incredible."
In 1998, Pak became the first golfer from South Korea to win the United Seo, 25, went to bed Sunday night with a lead of one stroke ahead of Ryu, who had three holes in the fourth round when play was suspended due to darkness. Ryu returned to the course and could have secured the victory in regulation. His birdie attempt at No. 17, 5 by 603 feet, touched the glass. On the final hole, hit a perfect 6 Ryu iron approach shot to 6 feet and drained the putt for a closing of two under par 69 and a total of 72 holes in three under-281. Cristie Kerr and Angela Stanford Americans also hoped to force an extension, but below. Kerr closed with a 71 and finished two shots behind. Stanford finished with 284 after shooting a 72 in the final round.
Playoffs begin with Ryu and referencing two berths go to No. 16 on the next hole, Ryu has a routine birdie, while Seo scrambled for a bogey after his drive found a fairway bunker. At 18, beat Ryu approach to 4 feet and birdied the hole for the second time in one hour, apparently without the hole had an average of only 6.5 birdies on the first four rounds. "I remember yesterday, cadet So Yeon said, 'We will chase you," said Seo. "And so the result is that they pursued me, and unfortunately I could not win this time." She added: "I am very happy for the Korean fans in South Korea won the big game, a great tournament."
Ryu, 21, became the fifth South Korean to win the Open and fourth in seven years. But there was nothing ho-hum about his victory. Entry into Open, the South Koreans had been excluded from the circle of winners this year on the LPGA Tour. He was not indifferent to the drought in a country that has averaged nearly three winners of a year touring the last decade. The South Koreans' lack of success caused great consternation in the house where a couple of theories have taken root. The first was that golfers have become complacent, lose their "hungry ghost" in the midst of their success. The second was that the trip was to expand its course with the aim Korean proofing them.
Not the South Korea in the first 10 drive, which is very true, Pak is the highest ranking, No. 11 players with an average of 263.8 yards. But the air went out of the conspiracy theory with the success of Ryu and SEO on the East Course, which played for the 6860 meters and the fourth round of the playoffs and the 7047 end of the week. Pak, a 25-time LPGA Tour winner has been asked, he thought he would see one day, two in South Korea, competing for the Open championship. "I did not expect," said Pak, who finished his fourth round on Monday and was tied to the forty-fifth at 297 .
In the post-playoff celebration of the 18 Green, Pak said Ryu SEO and they had "a very good job" and was "very proud" of them. This means that Pak was a balm, which somewhat relieved the pain of defeat for Seo, who said Seo said: "She is a legend for us." ". Second place is amazing, but, you know, sport is always to win, so it is a bit bad. But I'm happy for the result. I learned a lot this week.
Pak 1998 Open victory came on the heels of winning the LPGA Championship and was on television in South Korea. Among those who watched, transfixed, a Ryu eight years. "When I was young, my goal is the violinist," said Ryu. "I really like the music. See Ri until really won the tournament, I was just enjoying golf as a hobby. But I really enjoyed the coverage so much that she had received through the TV network in Korea .. Seeing that made me want to play more "Pak, 33, said:" Everyone says I'm just like opening the door for them, I do not know they are not afraid to go out and They can play handle the pressure, which is the most important thing .... "
Ryu said she had not slept well Sunday night because I could not stop thinking about the hole 16, which will resume the highest tower of his young career when the sun rises. "Therefore, my condition is not very good this morning," she says, "but I made a birdie at 18 and I have more energy." Seo had the advantage of the arrival on Sunday - not spend all night playing all the holes left in his mind -. apparently become a disadvantage in the playoffs, "Yes, it's good for me," Ryu said, "the practice simply because Kyung Hee but I played the three holes in the same conditions. Yes, really huge advantage."
More than an hour after his victory, Ryu said, still seemed a dream. It struck her that her name has been associated with Pak on the U.S. Open trophy. "And 'Ri has begun," he said. "I just followed."
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