Kyoung-Ju Choi
Asian Tour honorary member K.J. Choi finished tied sixth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday to give himself the perfect boost for his Masters preparation.
The Korean fired rounds of 72, 64, 76 and 71 for a 283 total, three shots behind winner Martin Laird of Scotland. It was Choi’s second top-10 of the season on the PGA Tour and comes at a timely fashion with the first Major of the year just around the corner next week.
Choi finished tied third in the 2004 Masters and equal eighth last year at Augusta National. He will be aiming for another title run next week.
Countryman Charlie Wi, a multiple winner on the Asian Tour, finished tied 24th in Bay Hill on 287 while India’s Arjun Atwal, who will play in his first Masters next week, settled for tied 62nd place after three successive 72s and a closing 78.
In the Andalucia Open, Asian Tour member Mark Foster of England finished tied fourth with rounds of 67, 67, 65 and 72 to finish three shots behind winner Paul Lawrie of Scotland.
Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg, last year’s Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, finished tied 11th on 274 following rounds of 65, 67, 72 and 70 while Japanese veteran Tetsuji Hiratsuka, who won three times in Asia last season, was equal 18th with rounds of 66, 67, 71 and 71.
India’s Shiv Kapur also enjoyed a solid week, finished tied 23rd after rounds of 69, 68, 69 and 70.
