South Korea's Se Ri Pak, who won two major titles last year, opens the defence of her US Open crown today trying to rise above a nightmarish season. "I'm trying to do like last year, but I have to start again," Pak said.
Pak was last year's LPGA Rookie of the Year, a 20-year-old sensation after who won the Open and LPGA Championship plus two other titles. She captured $872,170 to be second only to Sweden's Annika Sorenstam.
But Pak arrives at Old Waverly Club, in West Point, Mississippi, for the $1.75 million major having won only $59,669 in 1999, without a top-10 finish in 11 events and having missed three cuts.
The decline followed her decision to sack coaching guru David Leadbetter, who said she was not practising enough. She hit back by saying he was not available for her often enough.
The worst came last November when she was hospitalised during a visit to her homeland, where she is hailed as a hero, for a celebration. Instead, Pak collapsed from exhaustion and fever and spent three days in a hospital.
Pak was photographed crying while in bed taking intravenous fluids. She ended up firing manager Steven Kil and signing with Mark McCormack's International Management Group.
Pak now lives in Orlando, Florida, and has her older sister Yoo Ri travel with her and act as a manager.
"She is much happier now," said Jay Burton, Pak's new agent.
"She seems at peace with herself and the world around her. She's enjoying life and golf."
Australia's Karrie Webb, a fourtime winner on the US tour this season, leads the money list with $738,066, followed by Americans Meg Mallon and Juli Inkster and Sorenstam.
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