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K.J. Choi completes wire-to-wire win in Sony Open

K.J. Choi of South Korea celebrates with the trophy after winning the Sony Open at the Waialea Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP

South Korea's K.J. Choi saved his best for last on Sunday, nabbing his only birdie of the day at 18 to complete his wire-to-wire victory in the US$5.3 million Sony Open.

Choi, who started the day with a four-shot lead, posted a one-over-par 71 in windy weather at Waialea Country Club.

He had two bogeys and finished the week at 14-under 266, becoming the first wire-to-wire winner here since Brad Faxon in 2001.

Choi, who claimed his seventh US PGA Tour title, was three strokes ahead of South African Rory Sabbatini, who posted a 68 11-under 269. American Jerry Kelly was third, a further shot back on 270.

"Today was very, very tough," Choi said. "Every shot was different with the change in the wind."

The victory marked the fifth time in five attempts that Choi has gone on to win after holding the third-round lead.

Sabbatini closed within two shots of Choi, but two bogeys and a double-bogey spelled the end of his challenge.

Steve Stricker, Pat Perez, Steve Marino and Kevin Na shared fourth on eight-under.

Despite the difficult conditions, Choi was able to avoid a major disaster.

He bogeyed No. 4 after missing the green left. After eight straight pars he three-putted from 35 feet for bogey.

At 17 he saw a chip lip out as he settled for a tap-in par, and he finally grabbed his only birdie of the day when he pitched his third shot to three feet at the par-five finishing hole and made that.

"I was just trying to hit safe second shots all day," he said. "It was a little bit of a tough start, but it was a good finish. I am very happy today."

Sabbatini's double-bogey came at the eighth, where his decision to forego the driver off the tee failed to pay off.

"I just hit a poor tee shot," he said. "When you make a poor swing where there is a lot of trouble, you are going to find it pretty quickly."

New Zealand's Tim Wilkinson, who had vaulted into contention with a 62 on Saturday that saw him start the round two shots behind Choi, ballooned to a 78 in the blustery conditions and finished tied for 25th.
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