Along with
Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak is one of the "big three" of
women's golf. This week, she competes at the LPGA Tour's Takefuji
Classic, where Sorenstam is trying to
defend her title. Pak says that in this, her sixth year on the LPGA
Tour, her game is good and she hopes to take over the No. 1 spot
at some point in her career.
Q.: What are your general impressions about being back in Las
Vegas?
SE RI PAK: It is always excited to play a tournament instead
of practicing. It is always fun to be here in Las Vegas. You can golf,
gamble, get good food here all day. It makes me pretty busy. I played
here Monday and Tuesday. The course is in pretty good shape. I think
the greens may give us a hard time. The speed is different than in
Los Angeles. The course is in pretty good shape. It all depends on
the wind on how it will play.
Q.: Can you talk about how your season so far?
SE RI PAK: I am happy about my season. I have had a little
inconsistency with driver. I have been missing a lot of fairways. The
last two years I had really good seasons and had consistency. I still
have a lot of confidence and feel great about myself. Starting this
year at the first tournament I had a little trouble on the tee. I need
a little bit of consistency, but I think it is going to get better
every week as I keep playing. It was a long offseason and I started
slowly, but otherwise I have enjoyed it and it has been fun.
Q.: What did you do during your off week?
SE RI PAK: Last week I didn't do anything. Generally I would
not be playing this week, but my dad is here and Las Vegas is fun city.
He wanted me to play here so I decided to play. Last week was totally
an off week. I got here early, but didn't play. I was shopping around
with my parents. My dad gambled a bit and we have had fun.
Q.: Have you done any gambling?
SE RI PAK: I am not sure if it is exactly is gambling, but
I played some of the slot machines. I am always losing, but it is still
fun.
Q.: Can you reach the par 5s in two on this course?
SE RI PAK: I think two of them I can, but it depends on the
wind. Monday I played here in the morning and there was not much wind,
but I played yesterday afternoon and the course had changed big time.
There was a really strong wind and the course played in different shape.
It all depends on the wind.
Q.: Are you pleased with where your game is at right now?
SE RI PAK: Right now I am real happy about my game. I work
so hard every year and get much more comfortable about myself, my game
and even this Tour. I am enjoying it. Right now I am trying to find
perfect specs for my driver. I am getting close and playing every week
will help with the rest of the year. I play a TaylorMade 580 driver.
Q.: You have said that you would like to become the No. 1 player
in the world. Where do you feel you are in reaching that goal?
SE RI PAK: First I need to learn more about my game. I have
been getting better every year, but I am not as good as say Annika.
She has been on Tour for long time and she knows what to do. Mentally
she is pretty strong and physically she is pretty good. For me this
is my sixth year, but I am getting better every year and that is a
good thing. I need to get physically stronger and mentally stronger.
I need more experience about golf course management. I am getting better
about that, but still sometimes I think about so many things on the
golf course. Maybe that makes a little bit of a difference and I should
not think about things so much. I still have a lot of things in golf
that I want to do. I am only 25-years-old. I go out there and play,
enjoy it and learn more about the game.
Q.: Would you ever want to do what Annika is doing and play
in a PGA event?
SE RI PAK: Someday, but I don't know when. Hopefully my game
will get better and hopefully I will have a lot of confidence. Hopefully
before I quite golf I will be able to play in one PGA event.
Q.: Annika said that she hits it about 265 off the tee. Are
you about the same?
SE RI PAK: I am pretty close to that.
Q.: Do you think 265 will be far enough for her to compete
at Colonial?
SE RI PAK: Well I am not sure. I don't have any idea about
that. If you are consistently in the middle of the fairway then that
will help. Sometimes it is hard for me to play long golf courses. You
have to consistently hit fairways.
Q.: Annika is working on her long game right now. Are you working
on that too?
SE RI PAK: Always. I am always working on my golf. You have
to be the best putter and the best driver. You cannot just be a really
good putter or a really good driver. You have to be all together the
best. It looks like everything is pretty good in her game right now.
It is going to be interesting when she plays.
Q.: What do you expect from Annika when she plays Colonial?
SE RI PAK: She has a pretty good feel about herself. I am excited
to watch it. Last year she had an incredible year and she is actually
getting stronger. She hits it much more longer than 260, I think. She
has always been a good iron player. I am hoping she does well at Colonial.
I will try to learn more and watch her and improve. Hopefully I can
do better than her sometime. Good luck for her.
Q.: What do you think about that man who said that he would
like to play in a women's event?
SE RI PAK: I don't know what to say about that. I just don't
know.
Q.: Are you a little bit surprised that you have had so much
success in your career being so young?
SE RI PAK: I just want to do my best always no matter what
I do in golf. I choose golf and my job is a professional golfer. I
decided that I am going to be No. 1 in the world. Everybody dreams
about it and I am trying to be No. 1 in the world. Pretty much I planned
for it. I am here to be the best player. I work real hard and I still
dream about it.
Q.: Does Annika make you work harder?
SE RI PAK: Yes definitely, but it is just not me it is all
of the LPGA. I have to play well and get mentally stronger because
of her.
Q.: How close do you think you are to Annika?
SE RI PAK: I think pretty close. She is more than 30 years
old and has a lot of experience on Tour. She is a very wise player,
but I am getting close. I am not as good as her, but I think I am getting
close.
Q.: When would you like to try a PGA Tour event? Is that a
few more years later? Do you think you need some more experience or
what are your thoughts on that?
SE RI PAK: I need to have many more years of experience. Years
of experience and game experience. It is different from a couple of
years ago. Even three years ago I won many times, but cannot trust
myself a lot. I go out there, but I am not sure. I swing the club and
I am not sure if ball will be straight or right or left or what. Now
after three years I feel more comfortable on the golf course. My swing
feels free. I don't have to think if the ball will be straight or whatever.
I trust myself more. It is much more fun and I am play better.
Q.: Two years ago it was a battle between Annika and Karrie
and then Annika kind of pulled away. Did you see a change in Annika?
Did you see her working out?
SE RI PAK: Her body shape is different. Starting last year
it looked like she got a lot bigger, stronger, hitting much longer.
If you look at pictures of her you can see the difference. She has
helped the LPGA. Before you wouldn't see a player in an exercise room,
but now they are everywhere. Everybody is working out to be the best.
Q.: How much do you rely on your caddie?
SE RI PAK: My caddie is like my shadow. The caddie is the one
that helps the player. He knows my swing and you better trust your
caddie. I never blame my caddie even if I miss shot. I listen to him.
In golf you can't say anything is perfect 100 percent of the time.
You can hit the same shot 10 times and every shot is going to be different.
The caddie is the one who makes it easier, but I am the one swinging.
If you miss the shot, you miss it.
