Sports Watch

By Bill Kwon

Tuesday, June 22, 1999

Payne, Pak and Park
beat the pressure

PG doesn't only stand for parental guidance. It stands for Pressure Golf. Also, Payne Golf, Pak Golf and Park Golf.

And if you were keeping tabs on golf over the weekend, you know what I mean.

For Payne Stewart, it was redemption time in winning the U.S. Open at the treacherous Pinehurst No. 2 course.

Se Ri Pak also found redemption in finally winning an LPGA Tour event this year, besides making good on a promise to win a trophy as a Father's Day present.

And while Pak made her parents and the large contingent of South Korean media happy, I found more pleasure in Grace Park's first professional victory in a Futures Tour event in Ohio.

Believe me, it'll be the first of many victories for Park , who will be earning her way on the LPGA Tour next year.

One of these days, it'll be Pak and Park, or vice versa, finishing one-two in an LPGA Tour event.

All three - Payne, Pak and Park - faced enormous pressure to win over the weekend.

FOR Stewart, he didn't want to blow another U.S. Open lead. We all felt Payne's pain at the Olympic Club last year.

For Pak, she felt the burden of having to please an entire country, which was starting to wonder out loud if she was ever going to win a tournament again. She had been winless for the last 11 months.

"I'm very happy I finally got one in 1999," Pak told reporters after winning the ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey. "No more questions about winning one."

The victory also came at an opportune time for the 21-year-old South Korean. It'll give her confidence for next week's McDonald's LPGA Championship - one of two majors she won last year. Pak also won the U.S. Women's Open to become the first rookie to capture two majors on the LPGA Tour.

As for Park, who began her junior golf career here, getting first her paycheck ($6,600) was a big thrill.

"I was definitely nervous (and) the win has not hit me yet," said Park, who recorded two eagles in her final round.

The top three money winners on the Futures Tour get an exemption for next year's LPGA Tour. Players ranked 4 through 10 go directly to the final qualifying tournament.

Meanwhile, what can you say about unpredictable John Daly? Other than hoping that he grows up, that is.

Frustrated by Pinehurst's turtle-back greens, Daly swats his ball that rolls back towards him a second time and is assessed a two-stroke penalty for an 11 on the par-4 eighth hole.

DALY accused the sponsoring USGA of trying to embarrass the game's top pros with the unfair greens and pin placements.

"I'll take my penalty and pay my fine, but I'm standing up for the players. I don't consider the U.S. Open a major anymore," Daly said.

Funny thing, this is the same guy who thought it was a "fun golf course" when he shot a 2-under-par 68 in the opening round.

Besides his bizarre behavior, Daly has been putting up some bizarre scores - even for duffers. Besides the 11 in his latest exploit, Daly six-putted from eight feet in the Memorial before withdrawing after the first round. And last year, he took a 10 on the 18th hole in the British Open and a whopping 18 at Bay Hill when he hit a ball into the water at 18 and proceeded to splash five more in the drink.

My favorite quote about a big number belongs to Arnold Palmer. Asked how come he scored a 12, Arnie replied, "I missed the putt for an 11."