A decade after being inspired by Pak Se-ri's triumph at the U.S. Women's Open, fellow South Korean Park Inbee sealed a commanding four-shot victory in the same tournament on Sunday.

Teenager Inbee defied gusting winds with a two-under-par 71 at Interlachen Country Club to take over Pak's mantle as the event's youngest winner.

"I really would like to thank Se-ri for what she's done for golf, for Korean golf," Inbee told reporters after clinching her maiden LPGA Tour title two weeks before her 20th birthday.

"Ten years ago I was watching her winning this event on TV and I didn't know anything about golf back then. But it was very impressive for a little girl just looking at her. She was very famous back in Korea.

"I just thought that I could do it, too, so I just picked up a golf club maybe a couple of days after that."

Pak, a winner of 24 LPGA titles in a glittering career, clinched the 1998 U.S. Women's Open aged 20.

"I think I was pretty good when I was young, actually," Inbee said. "My dad gave me a woman's golf club and I think I broke that club in like two months after hitting that. Then he bought me a men's club.

"I started competing four months after I started playing golf. I remember shooting 128 in one tournament but after about a year I started playing really good."

Inbee came to the U.S. with her family at the age of 12, going on to win a host of amateur titles including the 2002 U.S. girls' junior championship.

"And now I'm here winning this event," said the Las Vegas resident who was doused with beer by compatriots Kim In-kyung and Jang Jeong moments after wrapping up victory with a tap-in birdie putt on the final hole.

"It's very special. I am very honoured to win this championship as a first win for my career. Hopefully, there will be a lot more coming up."