Battle of the Stars

Every year, Se Ri Pak likes to return to her roots in April or May: she journeys back to Korea to participate in a KLPGA event, and also to visit family and friends one more time before the Major season really starts on the LPGA. Until last year, this was the time that the Korean Open, the biggest event on the Korean tour, took place, and Se Ri duly attended, hoping to add one of these trophies to her cabinet.

Alas, she quickly gained a reputation for not being able to win an event on Korean soil. Not that she hadn't done that when she lived in Korea; to the contrary, she was a dominant force back then. But since moving to America full time, she had not been able to break the 'curse' and get a Korean win.

In late 2002, she did finally win the LPGA's CJ 9 Bridges Classic, which takes place on Cheju Island in Korea, giving her fans something to cheer about. But a KLPGA win eluded her.

Then, in 2003, the Korean Open was moved to September, and a new KLPGA event, the MBS X-Canvas Open, was started in May. Since this was when Se Ri was available to come over, she did so, and this time she finally broke the streak, winning the event in commanding fashion.

Se Ri holds her 2003 X-Canvas trophy

The newly crowned Hall of Famer returns to her
home country. Se Ri is the first Korean player to
make it into the Hall

Last week, Se Ri had a chance to defend her title at this event. She flew into Korea on a big high, having just won her 22nd LPGA event to qualify for the Hall of Fame. But she would not be the only Korean superstar to take part in the X-Canvas in 2004.

Grace Park, who had not been back to Korea since winning her first Major in March, decided this would be a good opportunity for her to return home as well. It was a costly decision: she had already committed to appearing at the LPGA's event of the week, the Franklin American Mortgage Championship, and when she bowed out at the last minute, she was fined $15,000 by the tour. Still, it was apparently worth it. The Korean press, meanwhile, was salivating: this would be the first time the two superstars of Korean golf would face each other in a KLPGA event.

As if that weren't enough, one of the biggest favorites of the Korean press, "Cinderella" Shi Hyun Ahn, the surprise winner of 2003's CJ 9 Bridges Classic and a rising star on the LPGA, also entered the event. An X-Factor (at the X-Canvas) to shake things up, or a possible spoiler in the battle of the Korean titans? Stay tuned!

Whenever the Korean golf stars return home, they are treated like visiting royalty, or rock stars, and this time was no different. Se Ri returned home with her mom, and she and Grace both appeared only a short time after getting off the plane at a joint press conference. A lot of the questions revolved around their budding rivalry. As if to prove that they really are friends after all, the two joked and laughed throughout the joint interview. At one point, they even gave each other a mock hug. See, they really do like each other! Rivalry? What rivalry?

Of course, when these two step between the ropes, it's time to take the gloves off, and they both know it. But for the moment, they had some fun.

Shi Hyun arrived a day later, and she, too, received the full treatment. Her sponsors, Kolon FNC, cannot believe the gold mine they lucked into when they signed the almost completely unknown Ahn before her breakthrough win at the 9 Bridges. They were fully intent on taking advantage of their new star. Shi Hyun had already appeared multiple times in ads and modeling sessions for Elord's clothing (Elord is, I believe, a subsidiary of Kolon). And on this trip, she did it again. Collected here are some of the photos from a modeling show she appeared in on the 12th of May. The show took place in Seoul and was co-hosted by her sponsor Kolon and Kia, the Korean car company. Besides modeling several outfits, she also posed with a Kia car. And on top of that , she gave a swing clinic for a lucky few fans who wanted to know how the budding superstar made that amazing body turn of hers that produced those great great results.

A good time was had by all. But don't take my word for it, check out the photos!

Grace and Se Ri are good friends when
they are not beating each other's
brains out on the course.
Here they hug (and mug) for the camera

Shi Hyun models