RIO DE JANEIRO -- Se Ri Pak could hear the burst of noise from 500 yards away and it wasnt hard to figure out what was causing the commotion.Inbee Park had made one last birdie.Pak could hear it from the back of the 18th green at Olympic Golf Course. She was the team leader for South Korea at the Olympics, the player who inspired a nation that has become the most formidable in womens golf. Park with a gold medal around her neck only affirmed that.Long ago, in another big moment for womens golf in South Korea, their roles were reversed.Park was fast asleep in her apartment outside Seoul when she was jarred awake in the middle of the night. The 9-year-old girl came downstairs to find her parents in front of the TV, cheering wildly as Pak won the 1998 U.S. Womens Open at Blackwolf Run, a landmark moment for golf in South Korea.Two days later, Park wrapped her hands around a golf club for the first time.Ten years later, she was the youngest U.S. Womens Open champion ever.That was the first of seven majors for Park, and a big reason why this year she became the youngest player (27) to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. Her most recent major was the Womens British Open last year to complete the career Grand Slam.And now shes an Olympic champion.Ive won majors, but I havent won a gold medal, Park said after her five-shot victory over Lydia Ko, the No. 1 player in womens golf. So this feels very, very special, nothing I want to exchange. ... Being able to receive the gold medal on the golf course was an unforgettable moment.She had been coping with a ligament injury in her left thumb that led her to take two months off from the LPGA Tour -- including the U.S. Womens Open and her title defense at the Womens British Open -- to get ready for the Olympics. She wanted to test her thumb in competition, so she played a Korean LPGA event and missed the cut.All that did was spark chatter that she should give up her spot in Rio to another South Korean, and it created unnecessary confusion and doubt for Park.She responded with a quiet determination.I really wanted to do well this week to show a lot of people that I can still play, Park said.But this victory was more than just validation.An Olympic gold medal, particularly under these circumstances, should allow Park to take her place among the best in LPGA history.Think about it. She had not faced top competition in two months and had not broken par in any round since April, the last time she even finished a tournament. She wasnt sure she could play the Olympics amid speculation she might not ever play again, especially after she fulfilled her final requirement in June for the Hall of Fame.There was nothing guaranteed because I havent played that well this season, and I havent really played that many events with the injury, Park said. So I had to overcome a lot of obstacles.And then over four days in Rio, it was as if she had never left.She was one shot behind after the first round to Ariya Jutanugarn, the No. 2 player in the world with four victories and a major this year. She had a one-shot lead over Stacy Lewis, her rival from two years ago. She played in the final group with Ko, another four-time winner and major champion this year.None had a chance.Park kept the ball in play and let her putter to do the rest.Inbee Park is the coolest individual, said Peter Dawson, the former R&A chief who now is president of the International Golf Federation. And I think she is the best putter in the world, male or female.Park wants to start a family, so maybe retirement is closer than she lets on. She said on a couple of occasions last week that she had no retirement plans.Then again, how much longer Park plays is no longer relevant.She already has earned a spot in the same conversation as Pak. There will never be another like Pak, whose legacy goes beyond her five majors and 25 victories on the LPGA Tour. She was the pioneer, whose exploits woke up a little girl in South Korea and inspired greatness.Just to be alongside her speaks to what Park has achieved. Custom Jerseys . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Fake Custom Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheapcustomjerseysonline.com/ . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Custom Jerseys Nike . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Custom Jerseys Adidas . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate.Jordan Spieth believes he can build on last season’s success, starting at this week’s Northern Trust Open where Rory McIlroy also features. Spieth narrowly missed out on forcing his way into a play-off at Riviera 12 months ago as James Hahn claimed a maiden PGA Tour title, but has since won six victories worldwide. The world No 1 hasnt replicated his 2015 dominance since a convincing season-opening victory in Hawaii last month, although showed signs of improvement with a bogey-free final round 66 during last weeks AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Spieth admitted to being physically jaded during a tied-fifth finish in Abu Dhbai, ended runner-up in Singapore despite another off-key putting display and got off to a slow start before on the West Coast last week before his strong finish. Spieth only just made the cut after three rounds at Pebble Beach The 22-year-old tees off for the opening two rounds alongside long-time friend Justin Thomas and former Masters champion Fred Couples, with Spieth remaining confident of having another big season.I think that we have the right balance and the right team, Spieth told a press conference on Tuesday. I think last year kind of proved that we could do it throughout a season and stay in contention in the biggest events, so I have full confidence in that. Sure, youre going to get good breaks and youre going to get bad breaks. For me, the more you look at it as hopefully Im out here for 30 more years, youre going to see a lot of both.ddddddddddddI think its all gotten a bit more consistent. When the pressure comes on, I can now really relate and look back to a lot of key moments where Ive hit shots in the past when the pressure has been on. The world No 1 struggled with his putter in Abu Dhabi and Singapore This weeks par-71 course overlooking the iconic Hollywood sign is a popular destination for Spieth, who is making his fourth appearance in five years at the West Coast Swing finale.Ive probably played this course close to 30 times now, which is a lot compared to other tournaments, Spieth added. Its one of my favourites in the entire world.I love being here. Its one of the very few (courses) with the history that it has ... not only just the champions but all those who have walked these fairways.For me to win on a golf course that I consider one of the top few in the world, I mean, thats always a goal. It would be pretty amazing.Watch the Northern Trust Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV Also See: Spieth looks to build on success Rory and Spieth meet in Cali 2015 recap: Hahn takes title Golf live on Sky Sports 4 ' ' '