Se Ri Pak wins as Daniels fades

The LPGA Championship was one for the ages, all right.

Just not for 45-year-old Beth Daniel.

Daniel's bid to become the oldest major champion in LPGA history buckled under relentless pressure from Se Ri Pak, who turned a four-shot deficit into a three-shot victory Sunday and set a record she knew nothing about.

The 24-year-old South Korean became the youngest woman to claim four majors, surpassing Mickey Wright, who was 25 when she won her fourth of 13 majors at the 1960 LPGA Championship.

``I really didn't have any idea I made a new record,'' she said. ``Thank God I didn't know.''

Pak had enough on her mind during another difficult day at DuPont Country Club -- like staying in the short grass, hitting the greens and avoiding big numbers.

She handled it with ease, living up to her reputation of playing her best under the toughest conditions. She closed with a 1-under 70, the second time she has come from four strokes behind in the final round to win a major.

``She did everything she needed to do to win this tournament,'' Daniel said. ``She hit fairways, she hit greens, she made putts -- and I did none of it.''

It was heartbreaker for Daniel, a Hall of Famer with 32 victories, none since 1995. She was poised to become the oldest woman to win a major, surpassing Babe Zaharias, who was 42 years, 11 months when she won the 1954 U.S. Women's Open.

``I think the ghost of Babe Zaharias stepped on my ball,'' Daniel said.

Daniel took a few minutes to compose herself after closing with a 6-over 77, which featured a double bogey on No. 5 when she three-putted from 12 feet, and bogeys on three of the first four holes on the back nine as the tournament slipped away.

Still, her voice cracked and she fought back tears. Asked why this was such an emotional tournament, she replied, ``Because I'm 45 and I'm in menopause.''

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.

``I was always a little behind,'' Pak said. ``Now, I'm even with them. And I'm pretty happy about that.''

Pak won five times last year, but was dwarfed by Sorenstam's record-setting season of eight victories, $2 million and a record scoring average. She still trails Sorenstam by a large margin for player of the year, but has her sights set on the Swede.

``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 -- 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 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 skidded to a halt just 18 inches behind thehole for a rare birdie, and she was off to the races.

Divots

Sorenstam went over the $1 million mark in her 10th start of the year, matching the record she set last year. ... Several players boarded a charter plane for France to play in the $2.1 million Evian Masters. Sorenstam decided to fly commercially. ... Solheim Cup captain Patty Sheehan said Sunday that Jane Geddes would be her assistant for the matches, to be played Sept. 20-22,at Interlachen in Minnesota.

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