GolfChannel: Se Ri Pak Retires Article

Randall Mell takes a lot of shots--often from me, but he is a good writer and this is one of the better articles I've read about Se Ri.

I still think it is a mistake for her to quit the game. She has golf left in her. But, the saying is "Once you think about retiring, you already have."

Didn't she announce this last year? I wrote this article prior to the HanaBank, and I specifically mention Pak entering her final season.

www.vavel.com/en-us/golf-en/552941-as-lpga-tour-heads-to-korea-a-past-generation-is-remembered.html

Maybe she announced it in Korea and it just didn't make it to the US until now. You know how information doesn't cross the Pacific Ocean.

Apparently, according to her interview, she's still planning on playing some even after she retires, but she's done as a touring professional. That's fine with me. She's been hurt so much lately that I'd rather see a healthy Pak four times a year than a hurt Pak all season. She should get a lifetime exemption into the Korea event. She apparently gets to play in the Women's LPGA every year. Maybe one or two other KLPGA events, and maybe one other LPGA event. I'm fine with that. It's time to say goodbye. Watching a longtime favorite struggle to make cuts is not my idea of fun. Pak has given us a lot of memories, and I'm sure her second career, whatever that will be, will be a big one.

I'll go further: when Se Ri signed with Hana Bank for a two year deal at the start of 2015, they explicitly said it would be her career's LAST sponsorship deal, pretty much announcing her retirement at the end of 2016. I distinctly remembering commenting on that when I posted about the Hana Bank deal.

Very apt comment by NYC. 

Speaking of of those sitting by the 18th green- was that really Jan Stevenson on Sat. on the right when Sei Young Kim came off 18??  Looking like an anorexic made up for Halloween??  I guess that's the Koreans revenge!

Marlene finished in the top 10 in the US Open 69 years ago. When she started getting facelifts, Korea was still one country.

So are any of you doing anything special at each event in her final year, similar to the flowers sent during her HOF year? Se Ri Pak has meant so much to the game she deserves a retirement tour.

It's nice that she is going to try to help golfers find a balance with their game and life. It's tricky though, the tour is so tough. Sure, it's good to have fun. But it's no fun finishing 60th or missing cuts. Playing so far from home, it better be worth it financially. If you need to grind it out practicing so as not to be cash strapped, then you have to do what is necessary.