Pak has turned heads in 1998

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1998 | 10:44 a.m.

All Se Ri Pak wanted to accomplish this year when she began her rookie season on the LPGA Tour was to play consistent golf, finish high in some tournaments and, maybe, place in the top 10 on the money list.

What the 21-year-old Korean did, in fact, was put together the finest rookie season of the past two decades in women's professional golf.

Pak, who will be competing in the PageNet LPGA Tour Championship which begins Thursday at the Desert Inn Golf Club, already has won four tournaments, including two majors, clinched Rookie of the Year honors, is second in earnings and is in the running for the Player of the Year award.

She also had a round of 61 at the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic, the lowest tournament round in LPGA history.

"Yes, of course I am surprised," Pak said of her phenomenal freshman season. "I didn't want to push myself because it was my first season for me, everything is different.

"I just came over here, so I'm just a baby and I have to learn many things. (I thought) if I just keep practicing, keep working hard, keep learning, after two years, three years, I can start winning."

Pak exceeded her own modest expectations back in May when she beat Donna Andrews and Lisa Hackney by three shots to win the LPGA Championship.

Seven weeks later, Pak became a household name when she defeated fellow 20-year-old Jenny Chuasiriporn in a thrilling U.S. Women's Open that took 92 holes to decide.

Pak won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff following an 18-hole playoff and became the youngest player in the history of women's professional golf to win two majors before her 21st birthday.

"Right now, my first season I win big tournaments two times already -- that is not normal," Pak said. "This is a good start for me. It gives me more confidence in myself, my golf game, everything. It has been a big help for me."

So, too, have the relentless media demands on her time and the constant comparisons to another golfing phenom, Tiger Woods.

"I know many people in many media, they focus on me (a lot) but it's good for me," Pak said. "I can practice better because many people are focused on me so it's really good for me. It's no pressure on me, I'm happy to do it."

Although she had established herself as the third-ranked amateur in the world three years ago while playing out of her native Korea, Pak said she did not expect to dominate the LPGA Tour the way she has this season.

"The players are great here (and it is) 100 percent more hard to win here than in Korea." she said. "I learn many things more better than staying in Korea."

Pak, who has earned $831,784 this season, can clinch the Player of the Year award with a victory this week and a third-place finish or worse by Annika Sorenstam. Sorenstam leads Pak by 39.9 points in the POY standings coming into this week's season finale.

Although she is not ranked among the top 10 in driving distance on the LPGA Tour, Pak routinely drives the ball 260 yards, which would seem to make her one of the favorites to contend for this week's Tour Championship. But Pak said she has not decided if the Desert Inn suits her game.

"Golfers are not sure about that all the time," she said after getting her first look at the Strip course this week. "Sometimes you play good, sometimes you play bad (and) sometimes (a course) is good for me, sometimes it's bad for me.

"I just have to play my game at my best each week, and that's good for me."

PAK IT IN

Se Ri Pak's 1998 accomplishments:

-- Won LPGA Championship

-- Won U.S. Women's Open

-- Clinched LPGA Rookie of the Year honors

-- Second in season earnings ($831,784)

-- Fired first 61 in LPGA history