SEOUL, Oct 13 (Reuters) - It has been 18 years since Pak Se-ri shed socks and shoes and stepped gingerly into the water to play a daring recovery stroke at the 1998 U.S. Women's Open, a shot that both defined her career and helped change the face of women's golf forever.
Pak's victory over American Jenny Chuasiriporn after a 20-hole playoff in Wisconsin would open up the LPGA Tour to an "Asian invasion" and proved to be a stepping stone for women's golf to reach new markets.
After a retirement ceremony for the 39-year-old trailblazer on Thursday at the co-sanctioned KEB Hana Bank Championship, Pak said it had been difficult to get through the round.