This morning I was sipping coffee scrolling through sports highlights when I saw Se Ri Pak’s name pop up. Honestly? I knew she was a legend but couldn’t recall her exact wins. Felt like a gap in my golf knowledge. So I grabbed my laptop and dove in.
First Step: Basic Search
Typed “Se Ri Pak wins” and oh boy—pages flew at me. Started scribbling notes on a crumpled paper:
- 1998 U.S. Women’s Open: Rookie year! Won in a 20-hole playoff. Crazy.
- LPGA Championship same year: Two majors as a newbie? Wild.
Spilled coffee realizing she did this straight after moving from Korea. Jet lag? Pressure? No sweat for her.
Digging Deeper
Checked the LPGA site stats next. My jaw dropped:
- 25 LPGA Tour wins total
- 5 majors including that 2006 McDonald’s Championship
- Youngest Hall of Famer ever at 30? Icon behavior.
Paused here—how did I NOT know she basically kicked open doors for Asian golfers? Her win inspired a whole generation like Inbee Park and Jiyai Shin.
Personal Takeaways
Closed my laptop and just sat there. Her grit stuck with me:
- Practiced dawn till dusk as a kid
- Slept on driving range benches during training
- Won U.S. Open with blistered feet soaked in antiseptic
Real talk: If I tried golf? Would’ve quit after one sunburn. But her grind showed me—success isn’t about perfect conditions. It’s about bleeding through bandaids.
Now I respect her legacy even more. Not just trophies, but shifting an entire sport’s landscape. Ended up texting my golf buddy: “Bro, we underestimated Pak.”
