Choi scores 1st PGA victory
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — The final full event on the PGA Tour has a way of rearranging schedules.
K.J. Choi had parent-teacher meetings for his third-grade son, David, then was going to take it easy before leaving on Saturday for China and the HSBC Champions. But after blowing away a strong field at the Chrysler Championship for his first victory of the year, he was making plans for the Tour Championship at East Lake.
Innisbrook was loaded with drama in the final round, everywhere but in the final group.
Choi made sure of that from the opening hole. He had a one-shot lead, split the middle of the fairway with his tee shot, then debated hitting a 5-wood with a hard draw. His caddie, Andy Prodger, persuaded him to go with a 3-wood from the uphill lie, and the shot never left its target, stopped 20 feet to the left of the pin and an eagle.
That gave Choi a three-shot lead, and no one got closer than two shots the rest of the way.
Choi made a 10-foot birdie that didn't matter on the 18th for a 4-under 67, giving him a four-shot victory over Paul Goydos (70) and Ryder Cup rookie Brett Wetterich (66).
Starting from the bottom, Mark Calcavecchia had reason to celebrate when he made Friday's cut, all but assuringmoving into the top 125.
