It aired in the wee hours, in the dead of summer of 1998, 14 time zones from the live events it transmitted.
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It would not seem primed to become anybody's phenomenon. It would not seem a candidate to cause audacious statements 13 long years after it signed off from some impossibly distant golf tournament on an opposite edge of a planet.
It would not seem - here goes the audacity - surely one of the most influential sport programmes in the brief history of television.
In the top 10, certainly. In the top five, probably.
While we speak often of television and its enormous monetary impact on sport, we speak less often about its effects on parents and on children who saw programmes and got big ideas.
Surely few remember the 1978 French Open tennis tournament, but supposedly, when a Richard Williams with zilch of a tennis background saw the champion Virginia Ruzici win US$40,000 (Dh146,920), he determined that if he had future daughters, he might steer them into tennis.
Well, take Venus Williams and Serena Williams and their collective 20 grand slam singles titles and, in terms of width of effect, multiply them by multitudes in the case of that golf tournament from 1998, and the television show that keeps yielding fruit even 13 years after it aired, its most recent major effect coming just this week.
On Monday in Colorado, the South Korean golfers So-yeon Ryu and Hee-kyung Seo went into a three-hole play-off for the US Women's Open title, which the 21-year-old Ryu won masterfully in order to receive traditional congratulations from Se-ri Pak.
Thirteen years before that in Wisconsin, Pak and the American Jenny Chausiriporn went into an 18-hole play-off for the US Women's Open title that turned into a sudden-death, 20-hole play-off, which the 20-year-old rookie Pak won grittily in order to …
Well, in order to win a second straight major and become the youngest US Open title-holder at the time.
And in order to thrill the millions of groggy South Koreans watching in the wee hours during a horrendous economic period that cried out for some good news.
And in order, as it happened, to alter the entire landscape of a sport.
When Pak won the LPGA Championship in May 1998 and then the US Open in July to more galvanised noise back home — plus a government-issued medal — the number of South Korean professionals and South Koreans who had won major tournaments totalled one (Pak). Well, look now.
As of Monday, Ryu became the seventh different South Korean player to win a major since Pak, counting Eun-hee Ji in the 2009 US Open, Inbee Park in the 2008 US Open, Ji-yai Shin in the 2008 British Open, Birdie Kim in the 2005 US Open, Jeong Jang in the 2005 British Open and Grace Park in the 2004 Kraft Nabisco.
In the rankings of Monday, July 11, four South Koreans grace the top 10, seven dot the top 20, 11 occupy the top 30, 16 the top 40, 19 the top 50 and 36 the top 100.
Those statistics would qualify as astounding if they had not grown routine. It is a continuation of one of the most profound - and, so often, charming - takeovers ever. It's stunning when you think about it even if nobody much thinks about it anymore.
That 1998 Pak-Chausiriporn play-off proved compelling even to some American men who never bothered much with women's golf.
Pak trailed by four shots after five holes but won.
She had to remove her shoes and hit out of the water on No 18 but won.
Her opponent, Chausiriporn, was an amateur who won admirers with her decency after her runner-up finish.
The whole thing in the dregs of summer compelled the galleries watching in Wisconsin beside Lake Michigan, and watching on television in smallish numbers in sensible hours.
It just did not compel them nearly so voluminously as the sleep-deprived sorts back in Seoul and thereabout.
As a Washington Post article of the time detailed, a golf craze hit South Korea right that summer.
Department store sales of golf gear shot upwards. Parents and children watched both live and on replays, and by a decade on, it became almost funny, this player and that player and the other player citing Pak as a hero and that show as an inspiration.
Shin has said it. Park has said it. And when did this latest champion, Ryu, begin playing golf?
Oh, that week in 1998. Now she plays her final rugged holes of a major title with Pak, still just 33 and finished with her round, following.
Pak is an exceedingly rare woman who dwells smack amid the phenomenon she unwittingly but skilfully created.
She appeared on television in 1998, and pretty soon the earth moved. Considerably.
ccupepper@thenational.ae
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMaly%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mo%20Ibrahim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.6%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%2C%20planning%20first%20seed%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GCC-based%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Tuesday, July 11
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court
Adrian Mannarino v Novak Djokovic (2)
Venus Williams (10) v Jelena Ostapenko (13)
Johanna Konta (6) v Simona Halep (2)
Court 1
Garbine Muguruza (14) v
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
