Though Inbee Park did not win the Ricoh British Women’s Open to extend her run of majors to four in a row, the fact that she had the opportunity to achieve such a feat gave the event a buzz all its own.
When this gracious young Korean arrived at St Andrews, she had as many as seven 2013 titles under her belt, with the three majors in that little lot being the Kraft Nabisco, the LPGA and the US Open.
The pressure on the 25-year-old was palpable, for no-one - and that includes Tiger Woods - has ever won four modern majors in a row across a single season. Everyone wanted to watch her, to take her picture and to talk to her and about her.
Park had known to expect a battery of cameras and questions when she arrived at the Home of Golf and she was ready for it. She smiled for every picture and, unlike some of her professional counterparts, she gave 100 per cent to her every answer instead of switching to automatic pilot.
The gist of what she had to say was that there was nothing she would love more than to have a Korean name etched on so famous a trophy. "I mean, all of Korea is watching me and they are very proud. I’m the lucky one to get this chance."
She was up at dawn on the first morning, off the tee at 7.03 and, with the help of a couple of 30-footers, out in 31 against the par of 36.
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