AT&T National Wrapup
KJ Choi played the AT&T National similar to how he played the Memorial.
Using his Trevino-like power fade, he eliminated one side of the course and coupled that with clutch shot making down the stretch.
Choi’s similar game plan at the two tournaments led to the same results--wins.
His two wins this year have come at Jack Nicklaus’ tournament, the Memorial, and this week at Tiger Woods’ tournament.
Woods was the sentimental story this week as he hosted his first tournament which paid homage to the men and women of the armed forces as the Fourth of July just past on Wednesday. But with his duties as tournament host and other commitments to attend in between rounds, he was never a large threat to win his own event.
This was not surprising. The first time Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus hosted their own events they too did not win.
Woods brought together a strong field for his tournament, but for most of the final round the championship came down to Choi and Steve Stricker. After the 8th hole Choi and Sticker held a four shot lead over their closest competitor.
They both started off strong to get to that point.
Choi was 2-under through nine holes and Stricker reeled off four birdies on his front nine. They were both 9-under through nine holes.
But their smooth rides hit speed bumps on the back nine.
Choi bogeyed the 10th, 11th and 13th holes to drop out of the lead.
Stricker held the lead for a brief time on the back nine, but he also faltered to fall out of the lead. After a bogey on the 11th hole, he and playing partner, Mike Weir, were told by tournament officials to speed up play as they were more than a hole behind. This appeared to have an effect on Stricker as he bogeyed the 14th and 15th holes to give Choi a two stroke advantage.
Choi added two more birdies on the 15th and 17th holes. On the 17th, he wrapped up the tournament when he holed out his bunker shot to get back to 9-under par for the week. That birdie made the 18th hole a victory lap for Choi. As he walked up to the 18th green he must have thought to himself that he has won Jack’s tournament and Tiger’s tournament, so when is Arnie’s tournament?
Next week the PGA Tour is in Illinois for the John Deere Classic. Check-in with hookedongolf.com all week for updates and results.
