Pak Produces With An All-Timer
Hello. Wasn't that a great McDonald's LPGA Championship? I tried predicting a winer when the last group got on the 10th tee. Needless to say, I was changing my mind throughout, as different ladies looked like they were going to take command, then fell behind.
Se Ri Pak was never on my list. I thought her time away from the winner's circle would hurt her. This opinion seemed to be verified on the 72nd hole. She was smiling a little too much for my liking. I thought she had lost her focus, and her birdie putt seemed to confirm that. A 3-putt put her in a tie with Karrie Webb at -8, with no guarantee of a playoff. A half-hour later, however, proved -8 was good enough.
I still didn't like Pak's chances in the playoff. Webb hit a great drive, and Pak was about 200 yards away from the hole. Given the hole design, with water to the left and behind the green, it was a scary shot to hit from that distance. Both distance and accuracy had to be right on the money just to get within 20 feet. Very few players had gotten that close with short irons, let alone with the utility club Pak was swinging.
What followed was arguably the greatest major playoff shot ever. Pak almost holed it! Unbelievable! For someone who had been out of the spotlight for so long, it was an incredible swing. If someone can think of a better shot in a playoff (the length alone made it my #1, let alone the green and surrounding water), please let me know.
Se Ri Pak now becomes as unlikely a winner as Webb was at the Kraft Nabisco. Yet the two are relatively young (Pak is still in her twenties), and have combined for 12 majors (Webb 7, Pak 5). It's amazing they're both back in the spotlight that's been dominated by Annika Sorenstam the last 5 years. Both are Hall of Famers (Pak will be once she completes 10 years on tour), yet have been so anonymous. It just goes to show how fickle a game golf is.
Hopefully all of us who have not had a career game in a while will be inspired by Webb's and Pak's efforts this year.
Regards,
Steve
Se Ri Pak was never on my list. I thought her time away from the winner's circle would hurt her. This opinion seemed to be verified on the 72nd hole. She was smiling a little too much for my liking. I thought she had lost her focus, and her birdie putt seemed to confirm that. A 3-putt put her in a tie with Karrie Webb at -8, with no guarantee of a playoff. A half-hour later, however, proved -8 was good enough.
I still didn't like Pak's chances in the playoff. Webb hit a great drive, and Pak was about 200 yards away from the hole. Given the hole design, with water to the left and behind the green, it was a scary shot to hit from that distance. Both distance and accuracy had to be right on the money just to get within 20 feet. Very few players had gotten that close with short irons, let alone with the utility club Pak was swinging.
What followed was arguably the greatest major playoff shot ever. Pak almost holed it! Unbelievable! For someone who had been out of the spotlight for so long, it was an incredible swing. If someone can think of a better shot in a playoff (the length alone made it my #1, let alone the green and surrounding water), please let me know.
Se Ri Pak now becomes as unlikely a winner as Webb was at the Kraft Nabisco. Yet the two are relatively young (Pak is still in her twenties), and have combined for 12 majors (Webb 7, Pak 5). It's amazing they're both back in the spotlight that's been dominated by Annika Sorenstam the last 5 years. Both are Hall of Famers (Pak will be once she completes 10 years on tour), yet have been so anonymous. It just goes to show how fickle a game golf is.
Hopefully all of us who have not had a career game in a while will be inspired by Webb's and Pak's efforts this year.
Regards,
Steve
posted by Irrelevant at 1:41 PM
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