Olympic gold medal winner Inbee Park may never be as beloved in South Korea as Se Ri Pak, but Park is revered in new ways now.
While Park was one of “Se Ri’s kids,” inspired by Pak’s iconic U.S. Women’s Open victory at Blackwolf Run 18 years ago, Park is making her mark in a way that radically departs from Pak, in a way that ought to especially please Pak.
In some ways, Park is breaking the Korean mold.
Pak, 38, will always be embraced as the pioneer who paved the way for South Korea as a force in women’s golf, as the inspiration to so many young girls who wanted to grow up to be just like Se Ri.