Open Winner Na Yeon Choi Inspired by Se Ri Pak

Na Yeon Choi (Allison)

ON FAMILY VACATION LAST WEEK, I didn’t catch much of the U.S. Women’s Open won by Na Yeon Choi. When I did tune in on Saturday afternoon, Choi had raced to a sizable lead on her way to posting a 7-under 65 in heavy breezes. On Sunday, she hung on for her first major victory.

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Baldry reported:

A Korean player was destined to win this week. Se Ri Pak and Na Yeon Choi crossed paths on the ninth and 18th holes—which share a double green—in a passing of the torch type moment Sunday afternoon.

Pak kickstarted the Korean revolution on this very ground 14 years ago, winning the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open on Pete Dye’s demanding Blackwolf Run. A 10-year-old Choi watched that moment on TV back home in Korea and set a new goal: Play on the LPGA. Now she’s the fourth Korean in the last five years to win the U.S. Women’s Open.

“My dreams come true,” said Choi, who closed with a 1-over 73. “It’s an amazing day today. I really appreciate what Se Ri did and all the Korean players. It’s really no way I can be here without them.”

Korean players, as Baldry pointed out, have won 11 women’s majors since 2001, more than any other country. At Blackwolf Run, they locked up the top five spots.

Hello, domination.