Park Inbee returns to St Andrews chasing history

ST ANDREWS, United Kingdom (AFP) – In 2007, South Korea's Park Inbee finished 11th as a rookie at the Women's British Open at St Andrews.

Six years on and she is back at the famous Old Course as the world number one and attempting to become the first golfer -- male or female -- to win four majors in one season.

Following her victories at the Kraft Nabisco, LPGA Championship and US Open, the addition of a first British Open would rewrite history.

"It is nice to be back here in Scotland with three major victories," said the 25-year-old from Seoul.

"There is a lot of pressure and everyone is talking about me trying to make it four in a row. But I'm getting used to it and once I am on the course I only think about golf," she added.

"Yesterday (Monday), there was no wind. Today (Tuesday) was really windy and wet and it was completely different.

"I have great memories of 2007. It was my first year on Tour and Lorena Ochoa won the title. At that time, she was the best player in the world," she said of the retired Mexican.

It was in 2008 that Park made her first big breakthrough with a win as a teenager in the US Women's Open.

But it took until last year's Evian Masters in France before she collected her second LPGA title.

"I was only 19 when I won that first major and I wasn't experienced" she reflected.

"I needed a few more years to get used to everything associated with being a top player.

"I've matured as a person and my swing has also improved -- that's the difference over the past year or so."

If Park does win on Sunday, there remains debate over whether her four majors in 2013 can be classed as a Grand Slam.

This year, the Evian Masters has been upgraded to 'major' status for the first time and she will defend that title next month.

But the term doesn't really matter -- four in a row would be an incredible achievement and having the chance to add a fifth would just add to the story.

For world number two Stacy Lewis, this week is a happy walk down memory lane.

Five years ago, the American won five out of five matches and led the USA to victory over Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup.

"It's cool to be back at St Andrews," she said.

"When you've played well at a course, it always feels good. In the past, I've come to British Opens not knowing the courses but I remember so much from 2008."

She also admitted huge admiration for Park's standing in the game.

"You would think winning two majors in a row would have fazed her. But she proved us wrong at the US Open. She just never seems to show any nerves."

Two weeks ago at the men's Open Championship, there was much consternation that Muirfield is an all-male club in terms of membership.

For Lewis, the more disappointing discrepancy in the golfing genders is the difference in prize money.

Phil Mickelson won 918,000 pounds (1.4 million dollars/1.05 million euros) at Muirfield -- while on Sunday the winner at St Andrews will pocket just under 328,000 pounds (500,000 dollars/377,000 euros).

"The ultimate goal is to have the same money as the guys," said the Texan.