Korean Choi in prime company after landmark Sony triumph

HONOLULU: South Korea's K.J. Choi cemented his place among the game's elite by winning his seventh PGA Tour title at the Sony Open on Sunday.

The world No 9 survived blustery conditions at Waialae Country Club to triumph by three shots and become bracketed with golfing heavyweights Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh.

Choi sealed victory for a fourth consecutive season on the world's biggest tour, joining Woods (12), Mickelson (also four) and Singh (six) as the only players with win streaks that long.

The 37-year-old Korean was unaware of his achievement until told during his post-victory news conference.

"That's a very interesting fact that I didn't know," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "But I'm not really concerned about things like that because I just found out, I achieved it because I didn't think about it.

"It was all through hard work and all I can do right now is just try my best, try to fill this empty cup that's out there. There are a lot of improvements that I need to make and all I can say is I'll just keep on trying my best."

Choi, who closed with a 1-over-par 71 in the second event of the PGA Tour season, believes his wire-to-wire victory will help him in the bigger tournaments to come.

"It has a lot of implications," he said, after posting a 14-under total of 266. "I think the biggest thing I learned this week is no matter what the conditions are out there, you have to stay patient with yourself.

"This experience in Hawaii is going to help me prepare for the major tournaments that are coming up because in those tournaments you have to be patient. You can't get too greedy."

Major preparation

"You have to accept the conditions as they are and I think it's going to help me prepare mentally for the major tournaments."

Asked which major sets up best for his game, Choi replied: "All the major championships are difficult to win and I would love to win any one of them.

"For some reason, maybe it's because I came close to winning the Masters, my heart is really with the Masters. I have tremendous respect for that golf course and the tournament.

"I've been playing in the Masters the past few years and, for some reason, I don't know why, but it just makes me feel very comfortable being there at the Masters."

Choi has recorded four top-10 finishes in the majors over the last four years. His closest effort was third place at the 2004 Masters, where he ended up three shots behind the triumphant Phil Mickelson.

The son of a rice farmer, Choi believes he will always remain true to his roots.

"I try to be very humble and I don't try to get too ahead of myself," he said. "I feel like if I'm one of the top players, then there's no room for improvement.

"I always think that you have to respect the other players as well, because when you have someone that you feel like you have to surpass, that sets a new motivation, a new goal.

"You can't just be thinking: 'Hey, I'm good, I'm one of the Top 30,' and not try any more. You have to be aware of the other players involved."

Agencies

(China Daily 01/15/2008 page22)