SEOUL — South Korean golf icon Pak Se-ri announced on Monday her collaboration with Silicon Valley-based investment firm Fir Hills to inaugurate the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, slated to begin on March 21 at Palos Verdes Golf Club in suburban Los Angeles. The event, a testament to Pak's enduring legacy in the world of golf, aims to inspire the next generation of golfers with its namesake tournament.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the championship, which is part of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, will feature a 72-hole competition with 144 players vying for a prize purse of US$2 million, marking a $250,000 increase from the previous year's tournament, then known as the DIO Implant LA Open. The World Golf Hall of Fame inductee expressed both excitement and the pressure of hosting a tournament under her name in the United States, emphasizing her commitment to making it a source of hope and ambition for LPGA Tour participants.
Having clinched 25 LPGA titles throughout her career, including five major championships, Pak has previously organized a tour event in South Korea and junior tournaments internationally, drawing on her extensive experience to meet the diverse needs of players. She highlighted the importance of providing excellent accommodations, dining, and course conditions to ensure the tournament's success and longevity, aspiring for it to become a historic event in golf.
The tournament has attracted top talent from around the globe, including South Korea's world No. 9 Kim Hyo-joo, former world No. 1 Shin Ji-yai, and three-time major champion Chun In-gee. They will compete alongside international stars such as world No. 2 Nelly Korda, seventh-ranked Lydia Ko, 13-time LPGA winner Brooke Henderson, and Atthaya Thitikul, the 2022 LPGA Rookie of the Year and the 2023 scoring champion, showcasing the event's global appeal and competitive field.
Pak's initiative to host the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship underscores her ongoing influence in golf and her dedication to nurturing future generations of golfers through high-profile competitions that celebrate excellence, ambition, and the spirit of the sport.