54-year-old Choi Kyung-ju, the oldest winner of the KPGA

"I never thought the ball, which I missed in the second shot in the playoff, would be alive on a small island. I don't think I'll forget it for the rest of my life."

Choi, who overcame his mistake and miraculously defended his par, ended the game in the second playoff. "Tank" Choi holds the trophy on his 54th birthday and is the oldest golfer in the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour.

In the final round of the KPGA Tour SK Telecom Open (total prize money of 1.3 billion won) held at Fincs Golf Club (par 71, 7326 yards) in Seogwipo, Jeju Island on the 19th, Choi shot a 3-over 74 with two birdies and five bogeys, recording a 3-under 281 total, and winning a thrilling victory in the second extra time and winning 260 million won in prize money.

Choi has won 17 KPGA titles for the first time in 11 years and seven months since the CJ Invitational he hosted in October 2012, and has become the oldest golfer in Korean professional golf history, surpassing Choi Sang-ho's record of 50 years, four months and 25 days at the 2005 Maegyeong Open.

Choi, who has 12 regular overseas tours including eight wins in the U.S. PGA Tour and one PGA Tour Champions (senior), has added 17 wins in the Korean tour, securing 30 wins in total. Choi also grabbed his fourth SK Telecom Open trophy in 16 years following 2003, 2005 and 2008, breaking his own record for most wins in the championship.

Choi Kyung-ju, who returned home immediately after participating in the PGA Tour Champions' major tournament last week, started with a five-shot lead but retreated the previous day, losing two shots to Hole 7 as he said, "I feel heavy." Meanwhile, Park Sang-hyun, who started tied for eighth by seven shots, caught up with four birdies to Hole 15, and eventually Choi Kyung-ju made a bogey at the last 18th hole, leading to extra time.

The playoff was a miraculous drama. In the first playoff, Choi Wooden's second shot was put into a rough (penalty area) on a small island in the middle of a stream in front of the green, but he added his third shot to make a par save, dramatically dragging it to the second playoff. A rejuvenated Choi turned the tide by successfully having a two-on in the second playoff, and Park Sang-hyun made a bogey after putting his second shot into a rough, resulting in a split of results.

Immediately after winning the championship, Choi shed tears and said, "Thank you to SK Telecom and Finks Golf Club. I fought hard with my juniors, and I am thrilled and honored," before wiping away tears. In an official interview, Choi said, "I was so excited after the game because I really wanted to win the title. I can't explain how my first extra-time second shot was alive without getting in the water, and I think God helped me."

Choi Kyung-ju, who took a commemorative photo at the "miracle scene" with his caddie right after winning the championship, smiled broadly, saying, "I want to commemorate the island in front of Hole 18 by naming it 'K.J. Choi Island.'
 

BY: 토토사이트