Pak became the seventh South Korean in 14 events to win on the LPGA Tour, and it was fitting that hers came in a major. Pak was responsible for so many joining her in the United States, with 32 players from South Korea now on the LPGA Tour.

And she needed a few breaks.

She holed a 50-foot birdie putt on the par-3 12th hole to stay in the game, and she surged into the lead with a chip-and-putt birdie on the par-5 15th and a wedge from the rough to within 4 feet for birdie on the 16th.

Better yet, she put the three-putt bogey on the 18th hole in regulation out of her mind.

Pak laid back off the tee on the 385-yard closing hole in the playoff, leaving her a long shot with her utility club. But it never left its line, and all Webb could do was smile.

More than 10,000 people who walked through the rolling hills on the back nine and lined the 18th fairway got their money’s worth. As the leaders headed to the back nine, a dozen players were separated by two shots.

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One of those was Sorenstam, who made a gallant run at an unprecedented fourth straight McDonald’s LPGA Championship, only to see any hope fizzle with a mental mistake. The Swede starting pouring in putts along the back nine, making four straight birdies, and was trying to make a 20-foot birdie on the last hole to post at 7 under.

But she ran it 10 feet by the cup and three-putted for bogey and a 68.

“I saw it was quick, but standing over it, you have to get to 7 (under), and sometimes things don’t compute,” Sorenstam said. “I just rammed it way too hard and I was thinking, ’Wow, you saw how fast it was; what are you doing?”’

Cristie Kerr also made a late charge and was at 7 under when she went after the back pin on the 18th. It sailed over the green, onto the rocks and into the water.

“I’m experienced. I’ve played in a lot of these,” Kerr said. “The only person I can blame is myself.”

Shi Hyun Ahn did the same, needing a birdie while playing with Wie and winding up in the water. By the end of the day, the show belonged to Webb and Pak, a flashback to their days of winning the majors.

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