Choi makes history by winning Compaq title

NEW ORLEANS -- It was 4 a.m. in South Korea when K.J. Choi began the final round of the Compaq Classic. The hour didn't stop his fans from watching on television.

"People will miss work to watch," said Hie-Man Hwang, a South Korean journalist who flew in for Sunday's round. "He can make history, it's a very big thing in Korea."

Choi did not disappoint the fans back home, becoming the first South Korean winner in PGA Tour history, closing with a 5-under 67 for a four-stroke victory in the Compaq Classic.

"I believe it will influence a generation of Korean golfers to come to the U.S. and try out for the PGA," Choi said through an interpreter. "In that sense, the win is very special."

Choi earned the $810,000 winner's check with a 17-under 271 total, holding off a number of challengers in ideal scoring condition at on the English Turn course.

Geoff Ogilvy and Dudley Hart came the closest, finishing with 68s to tie for second at 14-under 275. John Cook (66), Chris DiMarco (68), Mike Sposa (68) and Dan Forsman (70) were 13 under.

"The greens kept getting harder and faster and browner and slippery, as I like to say," Hart said. "It was very slick and, actually, hard to read sometimes."

Choi, who took the lead in the second round, was tied but never trailed after that. He took it slow and steady in the 91-degree heat as the field surged toward him.

"This win is very special to me because when I first came to the U.S. I had a 10-year plan laid out," Choi said. "It's earlier than I though it would happen, but it's part of the plan."

He had two birdies on the front nine for a one-stroke lead at the turn, and sank a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 11 to go to 15 under -- two shots ahead of three players.

Choi increased his lead with a birdie on No. 13. His second shot on the 16th rolled to the lip of the cup and sat there, a breath away from an eagle and a five-shot lead.

Choi described that as the turning point in the round. He said he knew it was a good shot, but did not think it was an eagle.

"If it had gone in the crowd would have gone wild," the interpreter said. "He didn't think the crowd went wild enough."

Choi chipped in for his final birdie on No. 17 -- a 35-footer from out of the rough.

Chick-fil-A Championship

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. -- Juli Inkster overcame an extended layoff to win the rain-plagued Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, shooting a 6-under 66 for a two-stroke victory.

Inkster returned to the course for the first time since Friday afternoon, having waited through two days of incessant rain that forced the tournament to be reduced from 54 to 36 holes.

The LPGA Hall of Famer overcame a two-shot deficit at the start of the round to earn the 27th victory of her career with a 12-under 132 total.

Kelly Robbins, who led by two strokes after the first round, struggled much of the day but finished birdie-birdie-eagle to take second with a 70 for the round and 134 overall.

Bruno's Memorial Classic

HOOVER, Ala. -- Sammy Rachels made a 10-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff with Dana Quigley to win the Bruno's Memorial Classic.

Rachels, who closed with a 5-under 67 to match Quigley at 15-under 201, earned $210,000 for his first victory of the season and third on the Senior PGA Tour.

Rachels holed the winning putt on the 17th hole after Quigley missed an 18-footer and tapped in for par. Both players birdied the 18th hole to begin the playoff.

Larry Nelson, the second-round leader, finished one stroke back with a final-day 70.

-- From wire reports