Choi Kyung-ju misses title amid gusty winds

Choi Kyung-ju (45) was expected to advance to playoff only if he garnered a birdie at Hole 18 (par 5), where he ranked second by one-par difference. Immediately after hitting his third shot with distance to the pin at 113 meters at the hole, however, he watched the skies before smiling bitterly. The ball that fell onto the green stopped at a point about eight meters off the hole.

“It was a distance good for Iron-9, but I held my Iron-8 short because I had to send the ball across the pond against head winds, and this is the outcome,” Choi expressed regret. His dream to achieve victory, which he had long aspired, went up on smoke amid gusty winds, but he showed glimmers of hope by staying in the lead group throughout the tournament for the first time in many years.

At the Farmers Insurance Open of the U.S. PGA Tour, which ended at Torrey Pines Golf Club (par 72, 7,569 yards) in California on Tuesday, Choi ranked second with 5-under 283 overall. He lagged behind Brandt Snedeker of the U.S. by one-par difference, and narrowly missed the title that he almost secured for the first time in four years and eight months. After failing to complete his play the previous day due to bad weather, he resumed play from Hole 11 on the day, and lost one par due to a bogey play.

As Choi supported his son who was preparing to enter college and prepared for the President’s Cup last year, he was in a deep slump and failed to make the top 10 players in all different tournaments. He has made the top 10 list on Monday for the first time in 19 months since the Travelers’ Championship (tied for second) in 2014. The prize money for the runner-up was 702,000 U.S. dollars, which exceeded 440,000 dollars that he had received from 19 championships last year.

“I anticipated an even par today, as we had gusty winds of 15 meters per second. Winds were so strong that a driver shot was to fly 210 yards,” Choi said. “I engaged in an intensive training for the past two to three months with the aim of advancing to the Olympic finals this year while regaining solid performance in putting and ball control. I have gained self-confidence by winning the runner-up prize this time.” Depending on his performance in this season, it will be determined whether the veteran golfer will stay with the PGA Tour the next season. Choi’s world ranking has shot up from last week's 334th to 137th.

Snedeker, who finished his fourth round with 3-under 69 despite strong winds before the game was suspended the previous day, clinched his eighth career title while practicing to prepare for a playoff on the day.

Meanwhile, the organizers held the event without gallery due to safety reason amid possible damage caused by gusty winds on the day.

김종석기자 kjs0123@donga.com