Leader of the Pak

Even before Se Ri Pak made her debut on the LPGA Tour in 1998, she aspired to be like many of the greats in golf.

"I want to be Nick Faldo, because he has a great swing," the South Korean golfer said. "And I want to be Greg Norman, because he is such a strong player.

"And I want to be Nancy Lopez because of her personality. Everything is perfect if I'm like all of that."

Pak paused to flash one of her charming smiles before adding, "I'm still trying to play strong and I want to have a good personality. I want people to think about me not all the time as a player, (but as a) person."

She already has a cult following in Korea. And with her bubbly personality coupled with her penchant for golf, it shouldn't be long before the rest of the world -- if it hasn't already -- takes notice.

On Sunday, Pak birdied the par-4, 381-yard 18th hole at the Desert Inn Golf Club on the first sudden death playoff hole to win the season-ending PageNet Championship.

She beat defending champion Laura Davies of England and Rolex Player of the Year Karrie Webb in a playoff after the three were tied in regulation at 12-under-par 276.

It was Pak's fourth victory of the year. She pocketed $215,000 to put her third on the LPGA Tour money list at $956,926.

Davies and Webb each earned $100,500 Sunday.

As the Rolex Rookie of the Year last season, Pak won two majors, the McDonald's LPGA Championship and the U.S. Open, and lost the anonymity she was afforded before she became an instant success on the tour.

By the time the season was over, she was so tired of the numerous demands on her time that she was hospitalized for exhaustion.

This year, Pak decided she would not go through the same trauma. For that reason, she is a decidedly happier player and person.

So despite the intensity of a playoff situation, Pak said she felt no pressure.

"Even the playoff, when we move to the 18th tee, it just feels exciting," she said. "It's fun.

"It's a fun city, fun golf course, fun tournament, and especially the playoff, it's exciting. I just feel the whole week is so fun and exciting.

The same can't be said for Davies.

Pak led the field of 30 after two rounds before her best friend on the tour, Lorie Kane, caught her on Saturday by shooting a 68.

Heading into the final, Davies was two strokes back of Pak and Kane.

Davies took the lead when she birdied the par-4 13th hole. She then parred the final four holes as Webb and Pak got back in it.

But that wasn't the worst of it.

On the playoff hole, Davies' chip from 25 feet for birdie stopped dead at the entrance to the cup.

"I wish I could see it again," Davies said. "I thought it was in. I don't see how it missed.

"It was straight downhill. It was like glass down there. That's why I decided to chip it because I thought if I putted, there's no way I could keep it short of the hole.

"I thought maybe I'd chip in. I've chipped very well this week and I thought I had one more in me."

Even Pak said she thought Davies' chip was good, but she was thrilled when it wasn't.

"I think, 'Oh great,' " Pak said. "She's pretty good with that kind of shot."

Davies' playoff misery continued. She's 1-8 in them.

And losing this time wasn't any easier.

"I just want to win now," she said. "I finished second last week. I finished second this week.

"I don't want to finish second anymore. I'm fed up with that."

While Davies will take time to regroup, Pak will be treating herself to some sort of vacation at a secret location.

"I just want to go somewhere," Pak said. "Nobody knows. I just want to disappear somehow."

Pak paused to laugh and then donned a mischievous smile.

"I have one month to play and rest, to make sure I take some time for myself, and relax, have fun and play golf."

* HOLE IN ONE: Emilee Klein sank a hole in one from 142 yards on the par-3 16th hole at the D.I. to win a Mercury Sable. Klein finished the PageNet Championship with a four-day total 290 to earn $10,316. Klein finished the year 23rd on the LPGA's money list with $367,258.

* ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Korean Mi Hyun Kim earned Rolex Rookie of the Year honors this season and finished in a three-way tie for 10th place to earn $21,500. Japan's Akiko Fuushima, who finished three strokes behind Pak, was second in the voting and took home $57,000.

archive