Coach Pak Se-ri eyes podium sweep in Rio
.jpg?w=728)
Pak Se-ri speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap
South Korean golf legend Pak Se-ri, tabbed to coach the women's national team at next month's Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, on Wednesday said she's hoping for a podium sweep.
"I think the best case scenario would be the same for everyone: to win the gold, silver and bronze medals," Pak said at a press conference in Seoul. "It means a lot to our players to wear the national flag, and they're doing the best they can to represent the country."
The top-15 players on the world rankings as of July 11 automatically qualified for the Rio Olympics, where golf will be contested for the first time in 112 years. South Korea will field a maximum four players: No. 3 Park In-bee, No. 5 Kim Sei-young, No. 7 Amy Yang and No. 9 Chun In-gee.
All four players are LPGA winners, with Park, former world No. 1, leading the way with 17 wins and seven majors. The Olympics opens on Aug. 5, and the women's competition, a 72-hole stroke play, will start on Aug. 17.
Pak, who will retire after the season, is the all-time South Korean leader with 25 LPGA wins, including five majors. The first South Korean to enter the World Golf Hall of Fame, Pak inspired the likes of Park and Yang to pick up the sport with her trailblazing ways.
Pak, 38, said she still feels "awkward" being a coach, after having been a player for years. She said she wants to be an approachable, "sister-like" figure and provide the young, 20-something players with a shoulder to lean on.
"I don't want to place any more pressure on these players than they're already putting on themselves," Pak said. "Even if they don't come away with the results that you expect, I hope you will all welcome them home with open arms and give them pats on the backs."
Pak said the South Koreans will likely have to beat world No. 1 Lydia Ko if they are to complete the medal sweep. Ko, who was born in South Korea but is now playing for New Zealand, has won four LPGA tournaments this year, including a major, and doesn't have a glaring weakness in her game at the ripe age of 19.
"I heard the wind comes into play at the Olympic Golf Course," said Pak, who missed an earlier opportunity to see the course herself because the organizers weren't quite ready.
"It's a links-style course, and I think the players who can handle the wind and other elements should have an advantage," she added. "Every player on our team is in great form, and I believe they will all do well."
Pak said she was especially grateful for Park, who has been battling back and finger injuries all season and only decided at the last minute to compete in Rio. Only last month, Park mulled pulling out of the Olympics and giving up her spot to a healthier player.
"I believe she felt well enough to make the call, and she'll be back to full strength by the Olympics," the coach said. "I'd like to thank her for deciding to play at the Olympics. I am sure it was a boost for the whole team."
(Yonhap)