PGA’s Choi Off to Good Start for 2007

2006 Chrysler Championship Winner “Tank” Choi Kyeong-joo (picture) of Nike Golf hit a 3-wood for his first shot of the 2007 U.S. PGA tour season. The ball fell to the left side of the fairway.

In the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship held at Kapalua Plantation GC (par 73) in Hawaii on January 5, Choi struggled with the raging trade wind, produced six birdies and two bogeys and ended the day with a 4-under-69. He is leading the tournament with four other players, including Vijay Singh (Fiji) and Stephen Ames (U.S.).

Choi made 67 percent of fairways hit against the strong wind and 89 percent of greens hit with iron shots, ending up in second and fourth in statistical rankings, respectively. His total number of putts in the first round is 31; ranked 10th.

After a bogey on the third hole, Choi made a birdie on the fifth hole and three consecutive birdies at holes seven, eight and nine. He lost one shot on the 10th hole but secured his lead with a birdie on the 12th hole. He finished the round by chipping one more birdie in on the 18th hole.

With the strong wind to play against, only 12 of 34 players in total completed under par.

Stuart Appleby of Australia, who is aiming to set a record by winning the tournament four consecutive times, finished the round in 13th with an even par 73.

kjs0123@donga.com