Pebble Beach, California, United States: KJ Choi secured his first PGA Tour Champions title, cruising to a two-stroke victory over Bernhard Langer and Alex Cejka at the 2021 PURE Insurance Championship.
A week after losing in a play-off to Darren Clarke at the Sanford International, the Korean carded a final round of four-under 68 to triumph at the iconic venue for the first time in the over-50s circuit.
He began the day with a two-stroke advantage and sealed his victory with five birdies against a lone bogey.
The 51-year-old is only the third Asian winner on the PGA Tour Champions after Japan’s Isao Aoki and Kohki Idoki. An eight-time PGA Tour winner, Choi’s last success on US soil was at the 2011 Players Championship.
“My last win was at the 2011 Players and I wanted to get back to winning. Pebble Beach is special and my dream is winning here. Every tournament, I want to do it and win, and this week is so exciting,” said Choi, who moves from 31st to 21st in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
“Winning is very difficult, and the first win is exciting. My first victory in America on the PGA Tour was in 2002. First is always harder and hopefully the second and third will become easier.”
Leading into the final round, Choi began the day nicely with a birdie on the second before reeling in four successive birdies from the fifth to eighth holes to hold off his challengers. The long bogey of the card – his first in 39 holes – came on the 14th hole.
Langer, a 41-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions, and fellow-German Cejka also signed for 68s to share second place.
Choi said he is relishing the opportunity of competing on the PGA Tour Champions. “I’m working hard and I’ve kept patient. I’m keeping my physical exercise and I’ve worked on my body. Any win is very special. There are legends here who have kept in shape and have strong minds,” said Choi.
