Following in Open Footsteps of Trail-Blazing Pak

St Andrews, Scotland: Exactly 20 years have passed since Pak Se-ri made history as the first South Korean winner of the AIG Women’s Open, sparking an incredible period of success for Asia with 10 further champions since the historic moment for the championship.  

With less than a week until the season’s fifth and final Major gets under way at Carnoustie (August 19-22), the best women’s Asian golfers, including Major winners Kim Sei-young, Ryu So-yeon and Lee6 Jeong-eun, head to one of golf’s greatest tests with one goal in mind – joining Hall of Famer Pak on the champions roll of honour. 

A trail-blazer of the game, Pak was the first Korean to make an impact on the LPGA Tour, winning 25 titles including five Major championships, before retiring her clubs in 2016 after a record-breaking career spanning 18 years. 

Coming from four shots behind in the final round of the 2001 championship, Pak fired a sensational six-under-par 66 to prevail by two strokes over a world-class field at Sunningdale and start a legacy which has seen compatriots Jang Jeong (2005), Shin Ji-yai (2008, 2012), Park In-bee (2015) and IK Kim (2017) follow in her footsteps and claim the prestigious title. 

While Jang, Shin and Kim will not compete in this year’s AIG Women’s Open, seven-time Major winner Park heads to Carnoustie as one of the most decorated players and is in good form after picking up her 21st LPGA title this season. She is currently number three in the Rolex Women’s Golf World Ranking.

Returning to the AIG Women’s Open, where she has recorded six top-10 finishes in 13 appearances, Park, said: “I have fond memories of the AIG Women’s Open and I remember feeling very happy with my second round 64 at Carnoustie in 2011. You never really know what sort of conditions you will be playing in at links golf, but you just have to play your own game and accept whatever bounces you get out there.”

Outside of Korea, Thai Ariya Jutanugarn and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno add to the list of Asian stars who have tasted success at the AIG Women’s Open since Pak’s memorable victory, while Filipina Yuka Saso arrives in Scotland having claimed her first Major championship win.  

Saso, aged 19, pulled off one of the performances of the year with victory at the 2021 US Women’s Open and is set to make her debut in the AIG Women’s Open.

Saso said: “I have heard a lot about the AIG Women’s Open. It is such an historic championship and I look up to many of the past champions. This is my first trip to Scotland, so I am excited to play at an incredible course like Carnoustie.”

Saso and Park are joined in the field by Major champions from Asia including Chun In-gee, Ji Eun-hee, Kim A-lim, Lee6 Jeong-eun, Park Sung-hyun, Ryu So-yeon, Hinako Shibuno, Patty Tavatanakit and Kim Sei-young.