Inbee Park makes history with victory at the U.S. Women's Open

Inbee Park makes history with victory at the U.S. Women’s Open

Inbee Park flashes three fingers as she poses with the winner's trophy at the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

By David Wharton

June 30, 2013 12 AM PT

The significance of the moment was not lost on Inbee Park.

“I don’t know what I just did today,” she said. “It was great.”

It was something that neither Annika Sorenstam nor Lorena Ochoa ever did. Something that Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer never accomplished.

Cruising to victory at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday, Park joined Babe Zaharias as the only women to win the first three majors of the golf season. When Zaharias did it in 1950, there were only three majors.

“I knew what I was playing for,” Park said, acknowledging the chance to make history had brought on a case of nerves Saturday night.

But come the final round, she made it look easy, especially on the greens where her putter carried her to eight under par for the tournament and a four-stroke margin over second place-finisher I.K. Kim. Only three golfers finished under par at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

“Believe it or not, I was very calm,” Park said. “I didn’t feel much pressure when I was on the golf course.”

Now Park has some time to prepare for the British Open later this summer. Women’s golf has a newly minted fifth major, the Evian Championship, after that. Reminded that she has a chance to sweep, Park said, “Don’t tell me about it.”

“It’s scary to think of what I’m capable of doing,” she said.

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