K.J. Choi wins The Players Championship

K.J. Choi of Korea won the PGA Tour’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, coming through a sudden-death playoff against America’s David Toms

K.J. Choi
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K.J. Choi of Korea won the PGA Tour's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, coming through a sudden-death playoff against America's David Toms.

Choi and Toms were tied on 13-under-par through 72 holes so the pair headed back to Sawgrass' treacherous, island green, par-3 17th to begin a playoff. Both players found the putting surface and, after Choi had lagged his birdie effort, Toms had a chance to win. His 18-foot putt for a two looked destined for the cup but it narrowly missed and rolled three feet past.

He then hit a weak par putt that also missed the hole. Choi calmly rolled his putt for a three home and the victory was his. Although delighted with securing the win, the South Korean felt for his playoff opponent.

"As a fellow player, I felt very sorry for him," Choi said. "Because I know how that feels. And I felt bad for him."

Toms was philosophical in defeat and had no excuses for his crucial missed putt.

"No spike marks, no ball marks, no nothing," Toms said. "Maybe a lot of pressure. But other than that, there was no excuse."

The American can console himself with the fact that his second place finish moved him to 46th on the Official World Ranking, meaning he will avoid having to qualify for the US Open if he stays in the top-50 for another week.

Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland led by one shot going into the final round but, after finding the trees from the tee on the 6th, his long game fell apart. He found the water four times during the round and limped in with a 79 to finish way down the field.

England's Luke Donald couldn't get it going in the final round, though his closing 71 saw him finish in a tie for fourth - his seventh straight top-10 placing.

The Players Championship TPC Sawgrass, Florida May 12-15, purse $9,500,000, par 72 1   K.J. Choi (Kor)      70   68   67   70   275   $1,710,000 2   David Toms (USA)   66   68   71   70   275   $1,026,000 3   Paul Goydos (USA)   69   70   69   69   277   $646,000 T4   Luke Donald (Eng)   69   67   71   71   278   $418,000 T4   Nick Watney (USA)   64   71   72   71   278   $418,000 T6   Aaron Baddeley (Aus)   70   67   70   72   279   $287,375 T6   Jason Day (Aus)      69   70   72   68   279   $287,375 T6   Jason Dufner (USA)   69   70   68   72   279   $287,375 T6   J.B. Holmes (USA)   68   69   73   69   279   $287,375 T6   Hunter Mahan (USA)   70   67   73   69   279   $287,375 T6   Alvaro Quiros (Esp)   67   73   68   71   279   $287,375

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only Where Next? European Tour: Darren Clarke wins in Mallorca GM Centenary Society Days: Spaces available

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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