Choi claims fifth PGA Tour victory at Memorial

Korean stalwart Choi Kyung-ju claimed his fifth success on the US PGA Tour when he lifted the Memorial Tournament Presented by Morgan Stanley on Sunday.

The former Asian Tour player, who started the day five off the pace, blasted a seven-under-par 65 in the final round for a 271 total and finished a stroke ahead of runner-up Ryan Moore.

Choi had previously won two titles in the US in 2002 and coupled with his success at the 2005 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro and 2006 Chrysler Championship, the Korean ace stamped his mark with a fifth triumph when he fired eight birdies against a lone bogey at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

After four birdies in the first seven holes, Choi took the lead for the first time when he holed a 12 foot birdie putt at the eighth and blazed the front nine with a sixth birdie on the ninth hole. Two more birdies against a dropped shot on the home way sealed the win for the 37-year-old talent.

Choi took centre stage when he finished third in the 2003 US Masters behind Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els. He has also won three times on home soil with success at the 1999 Kolon Cup Korean Open and winning the 2003 and 2005 SK Telecom Open.

Victory was sweet as Choi grew up idolising Jack Nicklaus, the host of the Memorial Tournament. "It's very meaningful. It's hard to describe in words how meaningful it is," said Choi. "I just feel very honored and very happy to be living in the same age, same period of time as Jack is living, and to win his tournament is so meaningful to me. I can only think this was meant to be."

Tiger Woods finished in joint 15th place after a 67 for a 279 total while Sweden’s Daniel Chopra carded a 71 for tied 55th position.

On the Nationwide Tour, India’s Arjun Atwal shot a 68 and claimed tied 18th spot after a 277 total at the LaSalle Bank Open. John Riegger took the title after his second straight 68 for a four-day total of 271.

At the Celtic Manor Wales Open, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat fired a magnificent 62 to finish in tied second place after a 12-under-par 264 total. Despite dropping a shot at the opening hole, Mardan marched on with eight birdies as he enjoyed his best finish on the European Tour.

Mardan, who turned pro in 1994, finished a stroke behind champion from South Africa Richard Sterne who carded a 65.

In 2006, Mardan created history when he became the first Singaporean to win a co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event with his triumph at the Singapore Masters.

Jyoti Randhawa finished in tied 17th spot after a 65 while South African Anton Haig carded a 64 in joint 25th place. India’s Shiv Kapur shot his best round of 66 and claimed tied 43rd position. Three strokes back was David Bransdon who shot a 71 for a 277 total alongside James Kingston who carded a similar score.

On the Japan Golf Tour, Lin Keng-chi of Chinese Taipei shot a 75 and claimed tied 39th position after a 285 total. Tomohiro Kondo carded a 69 and took the title after a winning total of 271.

June 4, 2007

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