Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Pak to get quality air time

Tuesday, July 28, 1998 | 11:32 a.m.

BRIAN HILDERBRAND is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. His golf column appears Tuesdays. He can be reached on the Internet at bh@lasvegassun.com

The Ladies Professional Golf Association has a bona fide star in Se Ri Pak and, now, a new forum in which to showcase the 20-year-old rookie for the next five years.

The LPGA and The Golf Channel last Thursday announced a five-year extension to their television agreement until 2004. Under the terms of the contract, TGC will televise a minimum of 10 LPGA Tour events per year.

Three days after the announcement, Pak went out and won the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic for her fourth victory of the season. It was Pak's third victory in her last four starts, including an engrossing 20-hole playoff victory over Jenny Chuasiriporn in the U.S. Women's Open earlier this month.

"As evidenced over the last few weeks, the excitement, interest and energy surrounding women's professional golf is definitely on the rise and reaching heights the LPGA Tour may not have seen since Nancy Lopez and her rookie season in 1978," Jim Ritts, LPGA commissioner, said in a teleconference.

"The impact of Se Ri Pak goes far beyond television. The energy surrounding her expanded the LPGA Tour beyond golf fans; people were swept up by the drama (of the Open). You can see the energy that passes between her and the fans."

Interest in women's golf is at a peak not seen in two decades, largely as a result of the dramatic, nationally-televised playoff at the Open between Pak and Chuasiriporn. That interest should only grow once Chuasiriporn graduates from Duke next spring and, the LPGA hopes, qualifies to play on the tour.

"The LPGA and The Golf Channel have been partners since The Golf Channel's inception," Joe Gibbs, president and CEO of The Golf Channel, said. "This is one of our longest running relationships and each year we have seen more excitement for women's professional golf.

"With the rising, young stars and increased awareness, we are not at all surprised by the ever-growing interest in women's golf. The LPGA is a substantial component of our live-event coverage."

* NEW TOUR: The newly formed Teardrop Tour will hold the inaugural Teardrop Tour Championship Aug. 18-20 at Rhodes Ranch Country Club. The Teardrop Tour is in its first year and was formed from three other now-defunct tours: the Ram Tour, the Tommy Armour Tour and the California Golf Tour. Former UNLV All-American Ted Oh already has committed to play in the Teardrop Tour Championship, which will feature a $100,000 purse.

* THE WRIGHT STUFF?: The syndicated television show "Golf 2000 with Peter Jacobsen" has hired former CBS golf analyst Ben Wright to do a two-minute commentary beginning in September. Wright was fired by CBS in January 1996 after making sexist remarks about women's golf in a newspaper interview. Wright originally denied making the comments, but later admitted to it in a Sports Illustrated interview.

* JACK'S BACK: Three weeks after saying he might have to undergo hip replacement surgery, the legendary Jack Nicklaus now says that working with an exercise therapist has put those plans on hold. The therapist Nicklaus is working with is the same one who helped him through his back pains in the late 80s. "I believe in Pete Egoscue," Nicklaus said of his therapist. "Ten years ago the doctors said I needed back surgery but (Egoscue) proved to me that I didn't if I'd do the proper exercises." Nicklaus shot a 4-under-par 67 Sunday to tie for 13th place in the U.S. Senior Open at Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles.

* UPCOMING EVENTS: The PGA Tour is in Memphis this week for the FedEx St. Jude Classic at the TPC at Southwind. Greg Norman, who still is recuperating from arm surgery, won last year's event; CBS will televise. ... The Senior PGA Tour is in Park City, Utah, for the Franklin Quest Championship at Park Meadows Country Club. Dave Stockton is the defending champion; ESPN will televise. ... The LPGA Tour will stage the 20th du Maurier Ltd. Classic this week at the Essex Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Colleen Walker is the defending champion; ESPN will televise.