2003 US Women's Open

Wednesday was the day I cut my teeth as Major golf reporter: I got my first scoop! I also got a chance to watch all the Seoul Sisters in action (except Se Ri!), and took a boatload of pictures as well. But boy, it was a long day!

I got there bright and early at 8:30. They had been unwilling to share the practice round times the night before, so I hoped that that would be early enough to catch the top players in action. Unfortunately, it was not; Se Ri played only nine holes on Wednesday, and started at 8:10 am. But I was just in time to watch Grace Park, who was starting at 8:40. I had created a few Seoul Sisters T-shirts to wear at the events; the T-shirts featured Se Ri, Mi Hyun and Grace in action, labeled as the Seoul Sisters. I wore one on this day, hoping it would get a few conversations started. For though I had been covering the Sisters for more than a year, I had yet to actually meet any of them.

As Grace and Dave, her caddie, stood on the first tee, I called out to Dave. He came over, I introduced myself, and we had a small conversation. He seemed like a friendly fellow: British, very tall. He and Grace have made a wonderful team this year.

Grace models her latest Nike fashions
during her practice round
Seoul Sisters Photo/Eric Fleming

Grace during her practice round
Seoul Sisters Photo/Eric Fleming

My T-shirt would get me noticed by more than just players throughout the week. I was approached numerous times by people who have read the site and just wanted to say hi, or by people who were curious about the site and wanted more information. If you are reading this because I saw you at the Open, welcome!

After Grace played her first hole, she walked over to me, shook my hand and asked my name. I told her, and she said, 'Hi Eric'. Very nice of her! On the next hole, she again came up to me and said, 'So, Eric, where are you from?' I told her and we had another brief conversation. Then she saw my T-shirt and started giggling. She said she loved it. Very Cool! Grace's reputation as one of the friendliest pros you could meet was verified that day. In fact, all through the week, whenever she saw me, she would make a point of coming up to say hello. This is one lady who has not let stardom go to her head.

Practice rounds are not like normal rounds. Each player will hit multiple shots from the tee, but will generally only hit one approach. Once the group gets to the green, however, they usually drop a number of coaster sized mats on the green at various spots. They then practice putting to those spots. The putting practice is kind of tedious, as it takes up the lion's share of the practice round. I noticed that some players, such as Mi Hyun Kim, spend a lot of time writing notes after each putt, while others, such as Grace, seem to just practice the stroke but don't write tons of notes. This is the time for the player to figure out where the tough spots on the green are and learn how the putts will break. Nasty bunkers also see a lot of practice at this time.

This was also my first chance to see the course. It was a beauty, but also tough. I could tell that the third hole and the fifth hole were going to produce some high scores, especially if they placed the pin in certain spots.

After the fifth hole, there is a long walk to the next tee. Since I was walking right next to Grace, I struck up a longer conversation with her. She was wearing a lovely pink Nike top and a skirt. Although the weather was hot in Portland, it was doubtless nowhere near as hot as Phoenix, where Grace lives. I asked her if she were glad to be out of Phoenix this time of year, and she agreed. She had just been there a few days earlier, and it had been stifling. She is used to it now, though. I told her I had been there once in April and it was 100 degrees; coming out of 50 degree Seattle, it was quite a transition. We talked another minute or so; it was a most cordial discussion. I wanted to ask her if she had visited the Nike campus yet on this trip, and if they had a Grace Park building yet on campus (they already have a Tiger Woods building). But before I could, a cameraman appeared out of nowhere and started filming Grace's feet (I'm not making this up). He asked her a question that I couldn't hear. She said that the shoes were brand new, 'have not even been released yet'. They were snazzy shoes. Right after he disappeared, Grace took her spot on the 6th tee and prepared to hit her drive. I later found out that the cameraman was a Golf Channel reporter, and that his question about Grace's shoes appeared on Golf Central that night. So if you saw that, I was next to her when it happened!

I was lucky enough to meet a fellow I had talked to on the LPGA message boards during this practice round; he recognized me via the T-shirt. He introduced me to Grace's mom, who followed Grace around the course all week. Grace's mom was easily recognizable by her red umbrella, which she used to shield herself from the sun. I gave her my card before the day was done, and had a few nice conversations along the way. Grace's whole family is very affable.

Grace played very well. I estimate that had she played all nine holes straight she would have had at most one bogey. Every drive was right down the middle, although she only hit driver twice (even on a 411 yard hole she chose 3 wood). I felt that she had a really good chance to contend if she kept playing like that.

Grace practices her bunker shots
Seoul Sisters Photo/Eric Fleming