Choi wins by four at Chrysler Championship
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2006 Chrysler Championship | Wrap | 30 Oct 2006
KJ Choi won the Chrysler Championship for the second time – and confirmed some improved form in recent weeks – when he led the event over the final three rounds at the Westin Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course near Tampa to win by four over Brett Wetterich and Paul Goydos.
It was Choi’s fourth USPGA Tour victory and his 12th victory as a professional and takes his earnings in 2006 on the USPGA Tour to his highest ever in any one season. Choi has now pocketed US$2,267,000 and as a result of the US$954,000 he gained this week he is now into the Tour Championship at the expense of Jose Maria Olazabal. Olazabal was the only player to lose his place in the top thirty golfers. Those inside the top 30 at the end of this event have the right, if they so choose, to tee it up next week in Atlanta at the Tour Championship.
An eagle by Choi at his opening hole today made an immediate statement to the rest of the field and with Ernie Els, Paul Goydos and Brian Gay making only lukewarm starts and struggling through the front nine, Choi had opened up a two shot lead.
Choi hardly made a mistake on the way in and he eventually ran out the winner by four over Brett Wetterich, who has made an impressive return to the PGA Tour after going through Tour School last year, and Paul Goydos who chose the last event in 2006 to avoid Tour School once again. He had been playing under a medical exemption category in 2006 and his finish has given him perhaps even more satisfaction than that derived by the winner.
Jonathan Byrd and last week’s winner Joes Durant finished in a share of fourth.
The best of the Australians was Rod Pampling who was home in 30 for his final round of 65 and a share of 6th place. Now with just a tick over US$2.5 million in 2006, Pampling has had by far his best season. It is not yet over for him however as he too will be in Atlanta this week for the Tour Championship.
Stephen Leaney and Stuart Appleby were 31st, Steve Elkington and Peter Lonard 44th and Craig Parry in his last appearance as USPGA Tour card holder 65th.
Spare a thought for Nathan Green who has just completed an outstanding first season on the USPGA Tour. Nathan missed the cut this week and as a consequence has finished in 41st place on the money list and will miss out on a place at Augusta next year. The top forty automatically qualify but, after missing the cut, Nathan was at the hands of others as to the possibility of playing Augusta for the first time. K.J. Choi, Troy Matteson and Vaughn Taylor all passed him this week.
The PGA Tour now heads to Atlanta for the Tour Championship.
Photo – Anthony Powter
