Choi Kyoung-ju comes close to winning

Choi Kyoung-ju

By Yoon Chul

Victory wasn’t in the stars for Korean golfer Choi Kyoung-ju this time.

Choi’s chip shot in the 17th hole sank into the hole for a birdie as he trailed the leading group by one.

And at the 18th, the 41-year-old Korean hoped to push his luck and attempted a 21-meter chip shot for another birdie.

Had he been able to repeat a birdie, he was to advance to the playoff that offered $10 million in prize money. But the ball obstinately remained on the green instead of plunking into the hole and the gallery let out a collective moan in disbelief.

Choi shared third place with 7-under 273 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, U.S., Sunday.

In the FedEx Cup playoff Choi finished 11th and came away with $300,000 in prize money.

“I want to win next year. I will steadily prepare for that,” Choi said.

Golf like any other sport requires the utmost in focus and concentration for its professional athletes.

But a Tour Championship trophy with $10 million prize money could be enough to shake a golfer’s confidence.

Choi, dubbed “Tank,” also said he felt pressure as $10 million prize money was so close and yet so far away.

The most pitiful moment for Korean was in the eighth hole. As his tee shot sliced to the far right and he suffered his first double bogey in the event.

“I tried a draw shot but as the wind came from left to right the ball went off the fairway. It was a very tough hole,” Choi said.

In the back nine, Choi stumbled a little generating a bogey in the 11th. As the bad luck continued, he also made a birdie and bogey in the next two holes, respectively, but, seemed to get back on track succeeding two birdie shots in the 15th and 17th.

Among the participants his driving accuracy and putts per round were third and fourth but the green in regulation was only 12th.

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