“Let’s give a big round of applause to the up-and-coming young golfers.”
Seri Pak, the President of the Seri Pak Hope Foundation and head coach of the South Korean Olympic women’s golf team, celebrated for her iconic barefoot shot in the 1998 LPGA, is in Los Angeles to oversee a golf tournament. Starting March 21, the FIR HILLS Seri Pak Championship will take place at the prestigious Palos Verdes Golf Club in Southern California, spanning four days.
This official LPGA Tour event will showcase over 20 of the top 30 LPGA Tour players, including renowned South Korean golfers Hyo Joo Kim, Jiyai Shin, Jeongeun Lee6, Hye-Jin Choi, Hae Ran Ryu, and In Gee Chun, alongside Nelly Koda from the United States. Fir Hills, under Chairman Brian Koo, is the title sponsor, offering a total prize pool of $2 million.
Remarkably, this tournament is the third in LPGA history to be named after a female player. It holds special significance for Pak as it features the “Seri kids,” a generation of golfers inspired by her legacy. Pak expressed her hopes for the tournament to showcase the talent and potential of the new generation, continuing the tradition of excellence in golf.
Asked if she would achieve the same outcome if she were to replay her barefoot swing from the water on the 18th hole’s second round at Blackwolf Run Golf Course in Wisconsin, the site of the U.S. Women’s Open in July 1998. (With the successful trouble shot, she could win the title. It has been said that the shot gave the Korean people new hope when South Korea was grappling with a financial crisis.)
Pak replied with a composed face. ‘I haven’t really thought about it, but at the time, it wasn’t about whether or not I made the shot. It was just that I had to go for it, and that was important because it was a time when experience mattered. I believe I would still be sitting here if I hadn’t made that shot. But I’m grateful that many people gained hope and courage from that shot.
Pak also has some advice for aspiring golfers in the Korean-American community. “In golf, there’s one answer and then another answer. Often, young players don’t mature because their parents become overly ambitious. So, don’t get caught up in the immediate results; instead, look at the bigger picture.”
JTBC Golf will broadcast the tournament live in Korea from March 21.
BY BRIAN CHOI ichoi@koreadaily.com
