( CNN ) -- When Se Ri Pak won the U.S. Women 's Open in 1998 , she could not have imagined the impact it would have on the golfing world . Then 20 years old , and the only South Korean on the LPGA Tour , Pak won a titanic 20-hole playoff to claim her second major title in her rookie season . She had won the LPGA Championship earlier that year , but it was her success at Blackwolf Run that triggered a phenomenal boom in female golfing talent in both her home country and Asia in general . Four of the last five U.S. Women 's Open champions have been from Korea , most recently Na Yeon Choi -- who on Sunday clinched her first major title with a four-shot victory over compatriot Amy Yang at the same course in Kohler , Wisconsin where Pak inspired so many dreams . `` That was 14 years ago . I was only 10 years old and when I was watching TV , my goal was ... my dream was like I just want to be there , '' Choi said on the LPGA website . `` And 14 years later I 'm here right now , and I made it . My dream 's come true . I really appreciate what Se Ri did and all the Korean players , what they did . It 's really no way I can be here without them . `` I really wish like 14 years later from now some junior golfer or some young Korean golfer says , ' I was watching on TV how Na Yeon was playing 14 years ago and that inspired me . '' Feng aims to be 'the Li Na of golf ' after historic LPGA win . Pak was there to congratulate Choi , having overcome shoulder problems to take her place in the starting field -- 29 of which were Korean . The five-time major winner wrapped up a round of one-under 71 , which was good enough for a tie for ninth , as Choi was playing at the adjacent ninth hole . `` I 'm trying to give her a little look back , but I do n't want her to lose her focus , so I 'm trying to not give her a look , '' Pak said . `` But you know , she 's already been there many times . She won five times ( on the LPGA Tour ) already , and of course , this is a little different than a regular event , but she 's good enough to be out there , she hung in there . '' Choi needed to hold her nerve after a triple-bogey at the 10th cut her lead to two shots , and responded with an immediate birdie before a 20-foot par-saving putt at 12 and some lucky bounces off rocks to avoid the water hazard at 13 . `` That moment ( the triple-bogey ) maybe I thought I might screw up today , but I thought I needed to fix that . I can do it , '' Choi said . `` So I tried to think what I have to do . So I started to talk with my caddie about just like what airplane tomorrow , or about the car or about the vacation . Not golf . '' From military kid to major champion : Creamer 's salute to U.S. soldiers . The top 10 featured just three American players , as 2010 winner Paula Creamer tied for seventh with Japan 's Mika Miyazoto while 2007 champion Cristie Kerr and Nicole Castrale were alongside Pak on four over for the tournament . Germany 's Sandra Gal claimed third ahead of South Korea 's Ilhee Lee , LPGA Championship winner Shanshan Feng of China and Italy 's Giulia Sergas in fourth equal . Defending champion So Yeon Ru of Korea was tied for 14th in a group including 17-year-old American Lexi Thompson , who was seeking to become the youngest winner of a major in either the men 's or women 's game . She had been tied for third after 54 holes , but closed with 78 -- a better closing round might have made her a winner 10 days younger than Tom Morris when he triumphed at the British Open in 1868 . Former U.S. teen prodigy Michelle Wie faded from 13th going into the final round to a tie for 35th after carding 80 . She was a shot ahead of a group including 15-year-old Korea-born New Zealander Lydia Ko , who was the top amateur in 39th equal . Ko became the youngest player to win a professional tournament in January when still 14 . The world 's top-ranked player , Yani Tseng of Taiwan , finished equal 50th alongside veteran former No . 1 Karrie Webb after carding a second successive 78 .
Na Yeon Choi becomes fourth Korean in five years to win U.S. Women 's Open . She watched Se Ri Pak win the same tournament at the same venue in 1998 . Pak congratulates Choi after finishing tied for ninth at Blackwolf Run on Sunday . Choi 's compatriot Amy Yang claims second place in the major tournament .