Early in the final round on Sunday, it looked like KJ Choi, who was in the lead after 54 holes, would run away with the Senior Open, much like he did on Saturday when consecutive double bogeys late in the round erased his commanding lead.
But the 54-year-old South Korean, who won The Players Championship in 2011, regained his composure after three bogeys in the first six holes. He played the final 12 holes in five under par to win the Senior Open at Carnoustie by two strokes over Australia’s Richard Green.
“Unbelievable, today’s game [that I played]”After his victory, Choi said:
“I was very nervous at first, but I still stayed focused. [Later]”I felt like I was doing a better job. I had more enthusiasm and was more comfortable with my swing.”
Choi’s momentum started to shift in his direction on the par-4 ninth hole, when he made his first birdie of the day, then broke par on the 10th hole, and suddenly Choi was calm and, together with Green, was back in the lead at 7 under.
However, the outcome of the tournament was decided between the 12th and 14th holes, where Choi launched an offensive.
Choi easily birdied the par-5 12th hole, and Green bounced back with another birdie after a bogey on the par-4 11th, but then Choi came close to making an ace on the par-3 13th hole to win at 9-under par.
Meanwhile, Green found the putting surface but missed by about 18 inches, leading to an inexplicable three-putt that dropped him to six under, three strokes behind Choi.
On the next hole, the par-5 14th, Choi’s second shot slid through a pot bunker on the short left side of the green and landed 20 feet away for eagle. DrainedWith four holes to go, he had an irreversible lead and the tournament was in his hands.
“every [hole]Battling the wind and bunkers is very difficult and not fun. [I stayed] “I played patiently on every hole,” Choi explained.
“[I was] I was nervous during the finals, but I just prayed a lot every day. [telling myself]’Please wait.’
Choi’s perseverance paid off as he won his first senior major tournament of his career.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
