FORMER CHAMPION After having early success, Pak looks to brighter future

Se Ri Pak is the youngest woman to win four majors.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WILMINGTON, Del. -- Five years from now, Se Ri Pak could see herself at the top of the LPGA Tour with a record that might surpass Annika Sorenstam.
The 25-year-old South Korean already has won 20 times and four majors. At that stage in her career, Sorenstam, 32, had won only 16 times with two majors. Pak listened to the comparisons and nodded her head, a quiet approval of where she is and how good she can be.
"One of my goals was to make as much history as I can, which is not easy," Pak said. "But I feel as great about the next five years or more. My success is going to be much better."
She already is Sorenstam's equal in one area -- the majors.
Last year, Pak made up a four-shot deficit at DuPont Country Club and won by three shots, finishing at 5-under on the toughest course the LPGA Tour faced all season.
That made her the youngest woman to win four majors -- the same number Sorenstam has won in her 10 seasons on tour.
"I want to win more majors," Pak said. "I would love to win four majors in one year. I try every single year, but I already miss the first one, so that screws up the year."
She has come a long way in just a short time.
Pak hasn't mastered the English language, but she is just as engaging as she was during a brilliant rookie season that came to life in the LPGA Championship.
She won by three shots for her first victory -- "I didn't know this was a major when I won," she said -- then captured the golf public a month later with a 20-hole playoff victory in the U.S. Women's Open.
"This really helped my success," Pak said.
Sorenstam is plenty successful in her own right. She already has 44 victories, including back-to-back titles in the Nabisco Championship and U.S. Women's Open to account for her four major championships.
She will be inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame this fall. Sorenstam has been the LPGA Tour player of the year five times in the last eight years.