Se Ri Pak's Tour Diary

As originally written by Se Ri Pak for Joong Ang Ilbo. Translation by LoveGiants

Diary Entry #21: I Was Lucky to Meet Leadbetter!

What made Kwanwoo a great general was his great horse and sword.
(Kwanwoo is a great general in the popular version of the historical novel Samkukchi. His name has become a synonym for valor). As for me, teaming with Samsung gave me a great horse and teaming with Leadbetter gave me a great sword.

I met David Leadbetter the first time on November 11, 1996. Some Samsung staffers and I flew to Orlando, Florida, where Leadbetter's golf academy was. I had to take some tests before making a contract with him. He had said that he would decide whether to teach me or not after testing me in person.

Father, my first coach, seemed to think that his pride was hurt. But he didn't express it. Anyway, Leadbetter was a famous teaching pro who had taught such great golfers as Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Greg Norman, and Ernie Els. Leadbetter ran his own golf academy and at the same time, he had contracts with 16 famous golf clubs in the US and Europe, and made lecture tours.

I wondered about the way he taught, because world class players paid him 2 ~ 30,000 dollars for 1 hour's lesson.
I felt nervous because my father was the only person who had taught me golf until then. Father, who had molded my swing form, was more nervous. He had been so confident of his theory about swing that he called himself a golf doctor.

Later, I came to learn that there were so many who wanted to take lessons from Leadbetter that he taught only certain promising players after testing each one on one.

Leadbetter was a real pro. After welcoming me in, he started to test me at once. He took me to the driving range and told me to hit balls with the driver and irons. I said to myself, "I'll show him some wonderful shots." But the balls didn't fly satisfactorily. Leadbetter signaled me to try once more. I hit balls again, but the result was still not satisfactory.

After I hit several balls, Leadbetter said, "Try again after holding head covers under your arms." At first, I felt awkward, but the balls gradually began to fly satisfactorily.

The same thing happened when I swung irons. I swung the clubs confidently, but strangely, I could not feel
comfortable. After watching me swing, Leadbetter told me to swing holding a ball as big as a basketball between my thighs. At first, even to hit balls was hard, and the ball between my thighs again and again fell to the ground. I couldn't swing well enough to satisfy myself and my pride was hurt. I thought that he ordered me to do odd things. I felt uneasy. But after a while, I got accustomed to that awkward swing form. My back was wet with sweat but I began to think that Leadbetter was living up to his reputation and believed in his way of teaching.

The next day, he tested my physical strength. He made me walk fast on a treadmill for 20 minutes, then had me do some weight training. He watched me carefully and measured my physical strength.

On the final day, he played a round with me only. We two played golf without talking. I had usually felt comfortable on the course, but at this time, I felt nervous.

The test was over. I waited for the result feeling nervous.

Diary Entry #22: Pointed Out to be Short in Accuracy

I feel comfortable, having a week to go before the British Women's Open. Because I've rested enough, and two reliable supporters will accompany me. One is my coach, David Leadbetter, and the other is my father.

Leadbetter is going to give me swing instruction on the spot.
Father went back to Korea after the Du Maurier Classic and promised to meet me in Britain. He said he would bring some restorative, because he felt that I was exhausted. He was sorry for that. (restorative - in Korea, when one feels tired or weak, he usually goes to a Chinese herb doctor. The doctor prepares medicine to invigorate and restore his energy. Usually the medicine is a condensed liquid of various herbs.)

I woke up to the world of golf by meeting Leadbetter. My swing, rather rough before, became refined. I was a long hitter in Korea. Among my fellow players, I could not find anyone that hit balls longer than I. But accuracy was a problem. After taking lessons from Leadbetter, the accuracy of my shots improved beyond recognition.

On the final day of the entrance test, he gave me some advice about my swing. He pointed out that my back swing was so excessive that it decreased the accuracy in my swing. The overswing damaged the balance of my body and it consequently lessened the accuracy. He added that I could not survive in the LPGA with that kind of swing.

His advice pierced my heart. Because I had experienced that kind of thing at the Samsung World Championship the previous year. He also said, "There's a way to hit balls longer without overswing." But he did not say that he would teach me. He said that he would inform me of his final decision after close consideration.

I went back to Korea worried about the result. 'If Leadbetter, who teaches only promising players, does not
want to teach me, how can I succeed in the LPGA?' Fortunately, before long, Samsung delivered me some good news. Leadbetter had decided to accept me. "The rhythm of her swing is regular, and she has already basic skills, so when pointed out her mistakes, she can correct them." That was the explanation he gave for accepting me.

That night, father encouraged me. "Se Ri, if you want to succeed in the LPGA, you should take scientific lessons in addition to increasing your physical strength and fighting spirit."

I had never left father before then since I had started golf, so I felt uneasy about what I would go through all by myself in the US. On January 18, 1997, I arrived at Lake Nona CC in Orlando, where Leadbetter's golf academy was, and started to take lessons in earnest.

When Se Ri team staffers gave Leadbetter a small china piece, Leadbetter said, "When Se Ri wins her first victory, I'll pour champagne into this and celebrate." I haven't confirmed whether he did so when I won the LPGA Championship.

Anyway, my swing gradually became refined from 'Korea-class swing' to 'World class swing' after my meeting with Leadbetter.