ESPN Golf Online: 1999 Women's U.S. Open: Pak brings big burden to Open defense

Sunday, Jun. 6
Pak brings big burden to Open defense

Associated Press
WEST POINT, Miss. -- Standing in water up to her calves, staring at a ball buried in the grassy bank of a creek on the 18th hole of a playoff, Se Ri Pak figured winning the U.S. Women's Open would be the toughest task she ever faced.

NO MORE PRESSURE FOR KUEHNE

Kelli Kuehne was once proclaimed as the LPGA's version of Tiger Woods. The comparisons then were unavoidable.
Kuehne, like Woods, won back-to-back U.S. Amateur titles in 1995 and 1996 and had a deal with Nike even before turning pro.
But unlike Woods, professional golf began as a humbling experience for Kuehne, who grew up in the Dallas area and played for the University of Texas. She enters Thursday's opening round of the 54th U.S. Women's Open having just won her first professional tournament.
"Last year was a big year of growing pains. It was not a fun year for me," Kuehne said, recalling her rookie season. "I had a lot to learn. It's no longer just golf. This is your way of life now."
Woods won a Masters and millions of dollars before Kuehne earned her LPGA card for the 1998 season. Woods had 11 career victories before Kuehne won the LPGA Corning Classic last week.
"It's hard trying to establish yourself and I have struggled with that," said Kuehne, whose older brother Hank won the U.S. Amateur last year.
"When I came out here, it was great that I had a great amateur record, but it didn't do anything for me in the professional ranks."
As a rookie last year, Kuehne played in seven tournaments before she made a cut and earned a paycheck. She won just $39,831 in 24 events and lost her exempt status on Tour.
After those struggles, Kuehne realized that she was putting too much pressure on herself. Golf was not fun anymore. So she changed her approach.
While practicing at Old Wavelry Golf Club this week, the 22-year-old chatted with spectators and playing partners while walking the fairways. She whistled while she putted.
"I kind of lost my zip and I lost my flare last year," Kuehne said. "This year, I made a big issue of coming out and trying to have some fun.
"In golf, it seems like the harder you try the worse it gets. And it's one of the most frustrating things about the game."

The real challenge is dealing with expectations that have swelled since that remarkable Monday at Blackwolf Run, when the 20-year-old became the youngest champion in the longest Women's Open.
Having not won in the past 10 months, Pak arrived at Old Waverly Golf Club for the 54th Women's Open trying to defend more than her title.
"I try my best, but every week I cannot get No. 1 in the trophy," she said, still struggling to learn English.
The Korean press wonders if her new boyfriend is the reason her best finish this year has been a tie for 18th. Some question her decision to split with swing coach David Leadbetter at the end of her sensational rookie season, when she won two majors.
A year ago, her countrymen didn't know the difference between a birdie or a bogey. Now, they expect her to win every time she sticks a tee in the ground.
"Sometimes I not play good," Pak said. "They don't understand how tough all players, golf course condition, anything. Sometimes they are pretty upset, not playing good. That makes pretty hard time."
The conditions at Old Waverly are not nearly as brutal as they were a year ago at Blackwolf Run, when Pak and Jenny Chuasiriporn tied at 6-over 290 before their 20-hole playoff.
With showers Wednesday making the course even softer, rough that is little more than a nuisance and not much wind in the forecast, the record score of 10-under set two years ago by Alison Nicholas could be in danger.
As for the strength of the field?
Perhaps Pak should send home a postcard of Karrie Webb, a four-time winner this year who has not finished lower than 10th in her last 14 tournaments.
Annika Sorenstam, who beat out Pak for player of the year in 1998, is poised to make her first victory of the year a third Women's Open title. Juli Inkster and Meg Mallon have each won twice this year, and Dottie Pepper is riding a wave of confidence from her win in the first major, a record 19-under in the Dinah Shore.
All of them feel the pressure that comes with trying to win the most prestigious event in women's golf.
None of them carry the same burden as Pak.
"I know for Se Ri, there has been a lot of pressure for her to perform -- not really so much from herself, but her fellow country people," Nancy Lopez said. "I think they expected a lot from her. And because it matters to her, it's probably put more pressure on her.
"She needs to have breathing room because she's not going to be perfect all the time."
Pak wasn't perfect last year, although it seemed like that during a torrid stretch of golf.
The centerpiece was the Women's Open, a championship that Pak nearly didn't win -- and probably should not have won.
On the 18th hole of the playoff, her drive was headed for the creek when it dipped down the bank and was caught up in the rough. Her chances slipping away, Pak stepped into the water, pulled out a wedge, closed her eyes and listened for the gallery to tell her the results.
"They are screaming good news," she recalls. "So, I am very happy."
She managed a bogey to force a sudden-death finish, and Pak burst into tears when she made a birdie putt two holes later.
"Very difficult to get," she said. "Worked pretty hard. So, I got the trophy."
Already having won the LPGA Championship, she became the first player since Inkster in 1984 to win two majors as a rookie. Pak set two scoring records in her third victory, then won for the fourth time in nine starts in the Giant Eagle Classic.

Pakmania was born.
"Pure bedlam," said Laura Davies, who had to play with Pak and battle a Korean press corps that charted her every shot.
Pak was paired with Webb and Sorenstam during the first two rounds of the du Maurier Classic. A mass of photographers nearly stepped on Webb's ball in the rough during one scramble to get into position, and took pictures of Pak standing on the green as Sorenstam was in the middle of her putting stroke.
After the round, Pak required six officials just to get to the locker room.
"Sometimes it is pretty hard to handle it," Pak said.
She is a year older now, and the smile still comes easily. With advice from Lopez, Pak is learning to say no, trying to get a handle on the attention and the expectations.
"Many people ask me what happen because they think about last year," Pak said. "I played good season. Right now, kind of quiet. Actually feel like more better than last year. Everything right now all set, ready to go."