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K.J. Choi celebrates return to Asia with Johor Open victory

South Korea’s K.J. Choi celebrates after closing with a birdie on the 18th hole to win the Johor Open in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP/ASIAN TOUR

Asian Tour honorary member K.J. Choi celebrated his return to Asia with a deserving victory after emerging triumphant at the weather-interrupted Iskandar Johor Open yesterday.

South Korean Choi posted a third-round score of eight-under 64 for a three-day total of 20-under 196 at the full-field Asian Tour event that was reduced to a 54-hole stroke play tournament because of inclement weather.

Chapchai Nirat of Thailand took second place after delighting the galleries gathered at the Royal Johor Country Club with three amazing chip-ins on the 15th, 17th and 18th holes.

Retief Goosen of South Africa returned with a superb 62 to take a share of third position alongside overnight leader Himmat Rai of India, who closed with a 70 for a three-day total of 201 in the final round, suspended for two hours because of thunderstorms.

Choi fired three consecutive birdies in his opening three holes before adding another two on the sixth and seventh holes to make the turn in 31. The South Korean went on to post further birdies on holes 11, 12 and 18 to return with a blemish-free scorecard courtesy of an amazing par save on the 15th after his tee-off shot found the water. Choi recovered remarkably when he managed to hole his chip from 10 yards to save par.

South Korea’s K.J. Choi holds the trophy for photographers after winning the Johor Open in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP/ASIAN TOUR

“I was not really concerned about my shot on the 15th hole. Even if I had made a bogey, I knew that the next few holes were difficult holes and I had some space between Himmat, so I kept myself calm and it helped with the way I played,” Choi said.

Choi’s victory marked a happy homecoming as he had previously sharpened his skills on the Asian Tour before turning his attention to the US PGA Tour, where he has won seven titles.



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