Se Ri Pak's Tour Diary

As originally written by Se Ri Pak for Joong Ang Ilbo. Translation by LoveGiants

Diary Entry #23:Debut as an Advertising Model

When I came back to Orlando after the Du Maurier, I had a chance to experience an unusual thing. I was going to make my debut as a model! An advertising model, and with such a strong physique like I have! For 2 days, I filmed a commercial for Samsung and a public serving advertisement called 'Welcome To Korea'.

As I did not play well in the Du Maurier and I was tired both in body and in mentality, I wanted to take a break. But, during the break after a tournament, I did not want to waste time without doing anything either, so this kind of work rather made me feel relieved.

To film the advertisements was magnificent. They built a huge set at Falcon Fire Country Club, the location for the shoot. They had worked to build it all night long the day before to save time, with five truckloads of equipment.

I had to make a 'hole in one' because I did not have enough time for too many takes. The British Women's Open was just about a week away. I was so nervous, though I had never been so nervous on course in front of large galleries.

Of course, when they filmed me swing, I could make good shots because I did not have to be concerned about scores. But I made many mistakes when I read the lines, "If you look at the world with wider vision, you'll find the world amazing."

The more mistakes I made, the more I became tongue-tied. When I made a rather resolute expression as per the director's orders, he then told me, "Don't grimace". This kind of thing happened about 10 times before finally the work was over.

The next day was even more interesting. I filmed a public serving advertisement, "Welcome To Korea", to attract foreign tourists to Korea. I almost wore a Korean dress.

I heard that President Kim himself would appear in that advertisement and among Chan Ho Park, Sung Min Cho and me, the representatives of Korean athletes, I would appear longest. So I became nervous. At first, they wanted to film me saying, "Visit Korea" while smiling and wearing a traditional Korean dress, with a Korean traditional lantern in one hand. But they must have thought that the Korean dress did not flatter me, because they finally made me change into golf wear.

Anyway, I learned a lot through this experience. I do not belong just to myself any more. I've thought that the victories were mine. But now I have a sense of duty.

While taking a break at home in Orlando, I read fan letters, about 600 letters. Maybe, when I come back to Orlando, hundreds of letters will be waiting for me.

Diary Entry #24: I've had the Good Fortune to Have Kind Friends

I'm excited about the coming British Women's Open (1998). I want to forget my poor showing in the Du Maurier. Nancy Lopez said that one should enjoy golf, but for me, to win a tournament is important.

After Du Maurier, I wanted to take some lessons from David Leadbetter in Orlando, but he was in Britain then. As he is from Britain, he spends summer holidays there.

When I decided to participate in the British Open, he also decided to lengthen his holiday, so he is going back to the US after teaching me for two days (over there). Leadbetter has helped me in many ways. He introduced me to a new caddie and that solved my biggest problem.

Jeff Cable is an American and did not know how to play in Britain. And I did not know how to find a new competent caddie for the British Open. At that time, Leadbetter introduced me to a British caddie, Andy Frozer (?).

Usually, I do not worry about the coming tournament too much. But this time, I was going to make my debut on the European tour, and the tournament was going to be held on a windy, changeable course. So I was worried. Leadbetter understood how I felt and looked for a caddie who was quite an expert about the course. I believed in Leadbetter's choice firmly. Leadbetter himself was familiar with the golf courses in Britain, so the caddie he recommended was no doubt going to be good for me. And I knew that Nick Faldo had won several tournaments with Frozer. After that, he had worked for many famous players and now he is a freelancer, I heard. Most of all, before I came to Britain, I saw Faldo at Lake Nona Country Club in Orlando, and he had told me that Frozer would be a good assistant for me.

Sometimes, Leadbetter says out of both worry and praise, "Se Ri's most serious problem is that she practices too much." But when I ask him, "Besides practice, what else can I count on?", he just smiles.

I am really lucky to be one of Leadbetter's students. He had taught only male golfers and I was the first female golfer to take lessons from him. Leadbetter's lessons are really scientific. He requests only necessary motion.
Before I met him, I moved the upper part of body too much when I made a backswing, but I do not sway any longer. When I make a downswing, I started it from hips but now I lead it with my knees. In short, my swing became narrower, more simple and more comfortable.

I believe that I'm lucky. Father says that I'm a lucky girl who has attracted people since I was young. Well, maybe he's right. Nowadays, I feel galleries growing larger, and I receive fan letters from all over the world; about 100 letters a week.