Another major comeback for Se Ri Pak

Se Ri Pak stole the show from 45–year–old Beth Daniel, turning a four–stroke deficit into a three–stroke victory at the LPGA Championship here yesterday, to become the youngest woman to win four major championships.

Starting with a 123–yard wedge that checked up 18 inches behind the hole for a birdie on No 10, Pak pulled away on the back nine and closed with a 1–under 70 for her 15th career victory in just five years on the LPGA Tour.

Daniel, a Hall of Famer who hasn't won since 1995, was trying to become the oldest woman to win a major. But she buckled under the relentless pressure from Pak and fell too far behind to catch up at difficult DuPont Country Club.

Daniel still had a one–stroke lead at the turn, but a two–shot swing on the 10th started her slide. She shot a 40 on the back and closed with a 77.

"What a lousy day. I think the ghost of Babe Zaharias stepped on my ball," she said, a rare light moment during an interview in which she fought back tears and snapped at a reporter who asked her to describe the double bogey she made on No. 5.

Zaharias remains the oldest major champion on the LPGA Tour, winning the 1954 US Women's Open at 42 years, 11 months.

This tournament was still one for the ages – but for youth. The 24–year–old Pak now has four majors, the fastest start in women's golf. Mickey Wright was 25 when she won the fourth of her 13 majors at the 1960 LPGA Championship.

Pak also came from four shots behind in the final round to win the Women's British Open last year, only she made this one look easy. Pak gave herself birdie putts on 13 of her first 14 holes, and didn't miss a fairway until 15. By then, she had a four–stroke lead and no worries.

"This is the most special tournament. This is my first time winning," said Pak, who won the LPGA Championship as a rookie in 1998. "I didn't push myself at all. I was swing solid and putting great. I just did my best every day and I had a great score."

She finished at 5–under 279 – Pak and Daniel were the only players under par on a course that was firm and fast, with rough that gobbled up any errant shot.

Annika Sorenstam finally found her game, although it was much too late.

Starting the final round 14 strokes out of the lead and with no hope of a Grand Slam this year, she birdied four straight holes on the back nine and wound up with a 65, the lowest round of the tournament, to finish alone in third at even–par 284.

"I got a little revenge," Sorenstam said. "I know I can play this golf course, and I'll remember it the next time I come here."

No one knew much about Pak when she won at DuPont in 1998. Now, she is an integral part of the "Big Three" in women's golf. Pak, Sorenstam and Karrie Webb have combined to win 56 tournaments and 11 majors since 1998.

Pak won five times last year, but was dwarfed by Sorenstam's record–setting season.

She plays her best on the toughest courses, and could be in line for another blockbuster year with the US Women's Open at Prairie Dunes and the British Open at Turnberry.

"She wants to win majors and she wants to be No 1," swing coach Tom Creavy said. "Her mindset is to work harder, and keep working harder until she catches her (Sorenstam) – or until she feels Annika is better. And she doesn't feel like Annika is better."

Juli Inkster and Webb, who each completed the career Grand Slam at the LPGA Championship over the past three years, tied for fourth at 285. Webb started the final round six strokes back, but closed with a 74. Inkster had a 71.

This was a two–player race from the start, but Daniel lost her comfortable margin early when Pak birdied two of the first four holes. The game was on after both players chopped up the par–3 5th – Pak with a three–putt bogey, Daniel with a 5–iron into the bunker, followed by three putts from 12 feet for double bogey.

Daniel still had a one–stroke lead, but momentum belonged to Pak, and the South Korean continued to apply enormous pressure.

The turning point came at 10, which has the most severe green on the course. Anything above the hole is a sure bogey or worse. Daniel landed in the middle of the green to the left, just below the ridge. By the time she walked across the fairway, the ball rolled down and across the green, 20 feet off the putting surface.

Pak followed with a wedge that skipped and skidded to tap–in range behind the hole for a rare birdie, and she was off to the races.

Daniel picked up bogeys on No 12, when she drove into the rough, and on the par–3 13th when her ball bounced through the green to the first cut of rough. Her chip slid by the hole, went down a ridge and stopped 35 feet away.

Pak built the lead to four shots with an 8–foot birdie on No 14. "She did everything she needed to do to win the tournament," Daniel said.