Tank Choi Could Be PGA Force in 2007

The ‘Tank,’ Choi Kyung-joo (Nike Golf, Picture), exhibited his special quality of coming on strong at the end to start the 2007 PGA Tour by cracking the top 10 for two straight weeks.

It was at the final round at the PGA Tour Sony Open held at the Waialae Country Club (Par 70) in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 15. Choi Kyung-joo slipped out of the top ten when he made a bogie on the first hole (Par 4) and wasn’t able to shorten a shot until the ninth, so it looked like it would be difficult for him to make the top ten for the second consecutive week after tying at eighth place in last week’s opening match (Mercedes-Benz Championship).

But after he grabbed his first birdie on the tenth hole (Par 4), he added on birdies on the 14th and 17th holes, and managed to lower his score by two shots and tied at fourth place (9 under par, 271 shots). Choi’s solid iron shots at the opening match came in tied for first (75%) for targeting the green, which proved that after spending a year correcting his swing, it has reached a stage of completion.

Meanwhile, Paul Goydos (USA), who had made his debut on the PGA Tour 15 years ago, became the champion with a come-from-behind victory, his second win after 257 events since the 1996 Bay Hill Invitational. Goydos completed the round at 3-under par 67 and finished with a total of 14 under-par 266, claiming his victory with one-stroke less than Charles Howell III (USA) and Luke Donald (England).

Goydos, who dramatically won a card to this year’s tour by placing in a tie for second after Choi Kyung-joo at the Chrysler Championship last year, received $936,000, which is more than his total reward money of $890,000 last year, and has also secured a tour invitation for two years.

The ‘Teen Prodigy’ Tadd Fujikawa (Age 16, USA), who added excitement to the championship after Michelle Wie (Age 18, Nike Golf) did not make the qualifications, finished the competition by ranking in a tie for 20th place (5 under-par 275).

ysahn@donga.com