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Choi can go all the way, says ex-Faldo caddie
 The
man on KJ Choi’s bag believes the Korean star is ready to make
golf history by becoming the first Asian to win a Major at the British
Open.
Scotsman Andy Prodger insists Choi can go all the way at Carnoustie
after he charged into second place with a two-under-par 69 on Friday
to lie two shots behind halfway leader Sergio Garcia of Spain.
Two victories on the US PGA Tour in as many months recently has
shot Choi’s confidence through the roof and Prodger will not
be surprised if his employer finally bags the big one.
“KJ is becoming a very, very good golfer,” said Prodger,
who caddied for Nick Faldo in one of Englishman’s British Open
triumphs.
“He’s become a better player than before. He changed
his swing which wasn’t good previously but now his technique
is 10-fold better. His mind feels he can win a major. Those two
wins in America have confirmed that he can win a major. Maybe this
week … we’ll see but it’s a long way to go. But he
has the skill to win this tournament, that’s for sure.”
Choi, a product of the Asian Tour, came close at the US Masters
in 2004 where he finished third and later that year, he also achieved
his best British Open outing at Royal Troon where he finished tied
16th.
Prodger said that the Korean has also become more comfortable on
the putting greens in recent weeks after he started using a thicker-gripped
putter at the AT&T National on the US Tour which he won earlier
this month.
“Since he’s been using this thick putter, he has been
putting well. KJ doesn’t hit many bad shots. If he putts well,
he wins tournaments. It’s as simple as that.”
Choi swapped five birdies against three bogeys in his second round
to move into the title hunt and later said he wasn’t under
any pressure at all to deliver Asia’s first Major triumph.
Chinese Taipei’s Lu Liang-huan remains as the best Asian finisher
in a Major when he finished runner-up in the 1971 British Open.
“I don’t put any pressure on myself. I think anyone who
wants to win a Major has to be prepared. I always ask myself what
do I need to improve? What do I need to do? If you’re not going
to be prepared mentally, physically or technically in your golf
game, then you’re not going to win it,” said Choi.
Growing up on Wando island, which did not have a golf course, Choi
started his sporting involvement as a powerlifter before he turned
his attention to golf due to the influence of his physical education
teacher. He read instructional books from Jack Nicklaus and watched
the British Open on television late into the night.
“The British Open was televised a lot, so I remember the Open
growing up. And I remembered thinking to myself that in order to
play well in the British Open, you have to be a good bunker player
and play good in windy conditions.
“For me, any Major is valuable but the British Open has a
lot of history and tradition. So it’s definitely one of the
tournaments that I really want to win. If I just keep up my pace
over the weekend, who knows, I may get my dream after all,”
said the 36-year-old, who is ranked 12th in the world.
The last time Choi visited Carnoustie was in the 1999 Open and
he entered the weekend rounds just five shots off the lead. Playing
alongside eventual winner Paul Lawrie of Scotland, Choi faded with
an 81 and 75 but he said he has since learnt from that experience.
“Those days, I didn’t have the shots that I needed. But
now I have a lot more shots on my bag. I’ve got a lot of shots
that are working for me so I think that may prove to be the difference
this year.
“Back in 1999, my shots were weak in the wind. So when I played
with Paul, I actually learned a lot playing with him as I saw how
he used the wind to work for him. I think it was a good lesson for
me,” said Choi.
July 20, 2007
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