Michelob Light Open 2003: No Se Ripeat

Se Ri Pak had one heck of a great event last week. After a decent but unspectacular start, she shot rounds of 65 and 64 to get into a playoff, then made two more birdies and two more pars en route to her 20th career victory. Understandably, there was bound to be a little bit of a letdown. But with a player as skillful as Se Ri is, you don't expect the letdown to last long. So, coming into the Michelob Light Open, it was essential that she just keep herself in the game until she could get her second wind. Though she did do that well enough, her second wind never blew in. As a result, she notched another top ten, but failed in her effort to bag a second consecutive title.

I am fortunate that a huge Se Ri fan, 'SayYou_Seri' by name, attended the tournament this week and provided copious descriptions of Se Ri's play. Fortunate because the media sure didn't do this. Despite coming off one of the most brilliant victories by anyone this year (I think the most brilliant, actually), and despite the fact she was the top player on the money list, for some reason the media once again chose to ignore her this week. You tend to do that at your peril, for she has a way of forcing you to pay attention whether you want to or not.

Se Ri shows off her 20th trophy
AP Photo/John Bazemore

Se Ri shows us the ball in round 1
Reuters/Brendan McDermid

In the first round, Se Ri seemed unable to do anything wrong. Say_You reports that she had exactly one bad shot all day: it came on the par 5 seventh hole, where her approach was disrupted by some sort of noise behind her. Small problem; she still got a birdie on that hole. But despite some brilliant golf, she only shot a 2 under 69. Say_You estimates that Se Ri missed five shots by three inches total: an eagle putt on 15 that stopped less than an inch from glory, a birdie putt on 17 that stopped a quarter roll short, then another very close one on 18. As well, she unfortunately bogeyed the final hole. But she hit 13 greens, not bad, was absolutely drilling the ball off the tee (she would be tied for longest driving average after two rounds), and was making a fair share of birdies (five this day). Things looked promising.

As good as day one was, day two was just that bad. Se Ri seemed unable to hit a bad shot on Thursday, but on Friday she struggled mightily with her game. Weirdly, though, she ended up with exactly the same score both days, 2 under 69. How did she do it on Friday?

Her day started OK with pars on her first few holes, including the par 5, which she should have birdied given its length. But starting with hole 5, a par 3, she hit a groove. She put a medium length putt in there, then barely missed another on 6. On the par 5 7th, she blistered her drive well past her playing partners, then put her second on the green, becoming one of the very few to reach it in two that day. She had to wait awhile for her partners to play their second and third and even fourth shots, so close was Se Ri. Then came her chance, and she nailed it. Eagle, and suddenly Se Ri was on the move. Another birdie on the tricky par 4 8th (and this was a longish one) moved her to within one of the lead. Se Ri Fighting!

After that, things went south. On the back nine her tee shots went all over the place. She hit five greens, but tellingly, only one fairway on the back (and just six on the day). Everything was a struggle; even the two bogeys were valiant efforts, which of course doesn't make one feel all that great.

On the par 5 15th, Se Ri, who was now 2 under for the day after a pair of bogeys, had a chance to get one back. But right in the middle of her swing, a cell phone went off. Se Ri was as mad as she ever gets on the course, and took some time to regroup. It was that kind of day for her.

Se Ri drives during round 2
Reuters/Brendan McDermid