K. J Choi and Tiger Woods outsmart the field in the first round of Chevron World Challenge
Formidable K. J Choi came out to be a truly exceptional player in the first round of the Chevron World Challenge when he tamed the fierce west coast winds to surge to the top by a staggering three shots. Opening up with five straight birdies on the front
nine, Choi is now leading the event by three strokes, with his strong six-under, 66 at the Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, California.
"I was used to playing in the windy conditions, not only playing in Melbourne, but also living in Dallas, where there's 20- to 30-mile wind every other day," Choi said. "I'm used to practicing in those conditions. I've become very comfortable in those windy
conditions."
The Players champion Choi is making his third start on the Chevron World Challenge. He also has a stunning eight top-ten finishes on the PGA Tour.
Tiger Woods, a four-time winner of the event and who is also the host, finished with an impressive three-under, 69, trailing Choi by three shots. He is now tied for the second spot alongside his old compatriot and last month’s President’s Cup teammate Steve
Stricker.
"Anything under par is a good day today with the wind up," said Woods, a four-time winner of this event and the tournament host. "If the wind stayed down, you're going to have to shoot probably 68 or below for it to be a good score."
Woods also opened up with two straight birdies and carded two more on the fourth and fifth. He stumbled on a bogey at par-four, 9th before making the turn and carded two more birdies and dropped as many shots on the back nine.
Stricker, also had a better day, finishing for a three-under, under extreme windy conditions. He pulled in five birdies and dropped two shots on the 18-hole stretch. Stricker has been struggling with his neck and back problems for a considerable period of
time and recently returned to mainstream golf at the ninth President’s Cup last month. He was paired with Woods in the opening round and failed to make an impression in the event.
Strong American line up is all set to challenge the leaders including Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk and Nick Watney, all three currently poised at joint fourth for the moment.
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