When Se Ri Pak won the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open golf championship at
Blackwolf run, Korean’s were just entering the professional golf scene. Pak was just 20-years old when she capped off her first Major golf victory. Since then, she’s added four more major victories and 25 total LPGA Tour wins.
AUDIO: Se Ri Pak says it all started for her in Kohler in 1998 :14
Watching Pak on that day was a young So Yeon Ryu, who became the latest Korean women’s golf phenom after winning the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open in Colorado last summer. Ryu watched Pak sink a 15-foot birdie putt as a youngster back in 1998.
AUDIO: So Yeon Ryu says Pak was an inspiration :12
The Blackwolf course will layout around 7,000 yards, roughly 500 yards longer than the course that Pak won on in 1998.
Pak is recovering from a shoulder injury but said she expects to be ready to play in this summer’s tournament.