Who Is Seri Pak? Meet the LPGA Legend on Cusp of a Comeback

Seri Pak, a living legend of the golf world, is an inspiration for young female golfers around the globe. Hailing from the Republic of Korea, Pak became a professional in 1996 and joined the LPGA Tour of Korean. She started her victorious journey right after her debut year on the LPGA Tour that was 1998. Pak illustrated her rookie year with two triumphs; the McDonald’s LPGA Championship (now known as KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) and the U.S. Women’s Open.

Born on September 28th, 1977, at Taejon, in the Republic of Korea, Pak was her school’s best amateur golfer. Later, she moved to Seoul for further training in the sport. She won 14 times on the Korean golf Tour. She was the youngest to win the U.S. Women’s Open at the age of 20. Pak won a 20-hole playoff to grab the second major of the year. Interestingly, she made that tournament last for 92 holes which is recorded as the longest tournament ever in women’s professional golf.

Seri Pak was awarded the 1998 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and she was also the 2003 Vare Trophy Recipient. In her rookie year, she was the only South Korean member on the LPGA Tour. Additionally, in 2007, she was introduced to the World Golf Hall of Fame and became the youngest living entrant ever.

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Interestingly, Seri Pak also competed in professional men’s event in 2003 at the SBS Super Tournament on the Korean Tour. She became the first woman to make a cut in a male event since 1945 and finally finished 10th in that tournament. In 2007, after winning the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic for the fifth time, she became the fourth player in LPGA Tour history to win the same tournament five or more times.  In her tenure on the Tour, she won 25 events. She won three more Majors in her playing days.

After retiring in 2016 because of problems in her left shoulder, World Golf Hall-of-Famer is returning to the golf field once again, not to compete but to host! The LPGA star is hosting the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship from March 18-24 at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates.

Seri Park is excited and nervous to return as a tournament host

The FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship, earlier known as DIO Implant LA Open is going to be a unique experience this time. The golfer shook hands with a Silicon Valley-based investment company to host the event. The championship has a full field of 144 players, who represent 28 countries and is decorated with multiple major champions. The winning purse of $2 million is up for grabs.

As the tournament this year bears her name to celebrate her glory, Pak is looking forward to encouraging and inspiring young women who would like to make a career in golf. “I am looking forward to hosting a tournament with my name on it in the United States, and there’s also some pressure that comes with it,” Pak said, addressing a conference in Seoul. She added, “It’d be great if this tournament could be played for a long time and end up as part of golf history.”

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