Choi grabs first US PGA victory after three years on tour

South Korea's K.J. Choi ended three winless years on the US PGA Tour on Sunday, birdieing the first four holes and continuing on for a two-stroke victory over Japan's Shigeki Maruyama in the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.

It was Choi's first American tour victory since 2002, when he won two tournaments during a breakthrough season. He finished with a 6-under 66 for a 22-under 266 total, one stroke short of Jesper Parnevik's tournament record from 1999.

Maruyama shot a 67. First-round leader Charles Warren, who tied the Forest Oaks Country Club record of 62 before faltering a bit over the past two days, rebounded with a 65 to tie Brandt Jobe (67) and Jason Bohn (70) for third.

Sergio Garcia had a 71 to tie for 13th at 13 under. US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman and Adam Scott shot 74s to finish in a group at 3 under.

Choi snapped his winless streak near the end of what has been a very successful season for his country. Birdie Kim won the US Women's Open in June, and Jang Jeong followed that by winning the Women's British Open a month later.

Choi began the day tied for the top spot with D.J. Trahan, and three others were within two shots at the top of a jumbled leaderboard. Choi quickly took care of the logjam, knocking in a 17-footer for birdie on the first hole to move in front for good.

Three more moved him to 20 under, four shots clear of Maruyama, and there was very little drama left. About the only trouble for Choi came after a three-putt for bogey at No. 10 closed the gap to two, then he promptly left his tee shot on the par-3 12th short in a bunker.

But Choi's blast landed about 10 feet short of the hole and rolled straight in for a birdie, and he held on from there. Maruyama made it a bit interesting by holing out himself from the bunker on 18, even though it came a little too late.

The US$900,000 prize might have been enough to move Choi back in the top 30 on the money list, where he finished the previous three years.

Colin Montgomerie birdied the 18th from four feet for a 1-under-par 71 at the Old Course to win the Dunhill Links Championship by one stroke over Englishman Kenneth Ferrie.

Montgomerie, who trailed Ferrie by five strokes going into the final round, prevailed on a cold and blustery day. Ferrie managed only a 77.

The 42-year-old Scot finished on 9-under 279 with Ferrie on 280. Four others were tied a stroke back: Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson and Anders Hanson.

It was Montgomerie's first victory since winning the Singapore Masters early last year.

Montgomerie shot a record-equaling 65 on the Old Course on Friday, where he finished second to Tiger Woods 2 1/2 months ago. He wasn't quite as good on Sunday -- but good enough.

The triumph boosts Montgomerie into the top-20 in the world rankings, and into second place on this season's European money list behind US Open champion Michael Campbell. Montgomeire won the title seven straight times.

Montgomerie wiped out the overnight deficit after just nine holes as Ferrie dropped three strokes on the sixth and seventh.

But the 27-year-old Englishman, who beat Montgomerie for the European Open at the K Club in July, moved three ahead again after 12 as Montgomerie bogeyed 11 and double-bogeyed the 12th.

Ferrie bogeyed the 13th and 15th and Montgomerie sank a 40-footer to birdie 15 to draw level again. Then they both bogeyed 16 and parred the Road Hole 17th.

Ferrie's drive at the 357-yard downwind 18th was short and right with Monty out to the left of the green. Ferrie's chip was poor and finished 30 feet short while Montgomerie, from 90 feet away, putted down and up the slope to four feet.

Ferrie two-putted and Monty holed his left-to-right putt form the victory.