Fantastic Wedge-Shot at 16th Hole `Confident Victory`

He was no different from any other person, after all, despite the impassive face during the game. After the emotional victory was confirmed, his eyes were filled with tears, and he had to bite his lips to hold the tears during interview. He finally smiled as he embraced his wife Kim Hyun-Jung, who bore through times of hardship in a foreign country. It was the moment when Choi Kyung-Ju (32.Superior) stood as the final winner of the 3 day-schedule.

As legendary golfer Gary Player once said that “practice brings luck”, Choi was a good example. He, who began playing golf since high school, was `late starter` among the players, who started playing since childhood. He had to try harder than others to cover his handicap of short shots.

On the day, Choi was definitely paid back with additional luck, and put an end to his dramatic quest for victory. As Choi entered the final round as the 1-stroke solo lead, his shots were precise and other pursuers fell apart themselves.

After allowing co-lead at the 6th hole (par 5) and regaining solo lead at the 7th hole (par 4), Choi grabbed the title at the 11th hole (par 5) by outrunning the runner-up group by 2 strokes. The second shot, which aimed for 2-on, flew beyond green and fell in rough, but he managed to birdie-putt, placing the 3rd running chip-shot at the 6 meter-point. The ball ran along the uphill and downhill lines, and was eventually sucked into the cup.

On the other side, Bryce Molder (U.S.A.), who was chasing after Choi only a stroke behind, helplessly fell apart at the 19th hole with 4-putt hole-out and a triple-bogie.

Victory was made sure at the 16th hole (par 4), which Choi himself called the `turning point`. As he was 2 strokes ahead of solo second runner Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), he confidently grabbed a driver and made a 318 yard-shot onto the fairway, even though it was narrow. He aimed for the green with pitching-wedge while there were 124 yards to the pin, the ball fell 5 meters away from the pin, and kept rolling to stop at one-third way right to the cup, missing an eagle. Choi, then, added a birdie and confirmed his victory by running 17-under. While Choi was displaying a powerful performance through stable driver-shots, precise iron-shots, and putting, his champion group rival Molder seemed dispirited with 3-over. Mike Sposa (U.S.A.), who was threatening Choi at the beginning of the game, also blew his chance by missing an eagle-putting and short birdie-putting at the 11th hole (par 5).

The day’s weather helped him too. Hot weather made the participants to lose extra stamina, but Choi seemed stronger in high temperature.

After the final champion putting, Choi looked up to the sky. He perhaps thought of the saying, `Heaven helps those who help themselves`.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com