Okay.J. Choi captured the primary main of his profession after securing a two-stroke victory on the Senior Open Championship on Sunday in Carnoustie, Scotland.
Choi, 54, completed with a 2-under-par 70 on the ultimate spherical and ended up with a complete of 10-under-par 278 at Carnoustie Golf Hyperlinks. Sunday’s triumph was his first for the reason that 2021 PURE Insurance coverage Championship.
Choi rolled in a protracted putt for an eagle on the par-5 14th to spotlight his day. He additionally had 4 birdies to offset 4 bogeys.
“I prayed all week,” stated Choi, who grew to become the primary South Korean to win a senior main. “Both method I began very nervous, and a few pace was off, which was the distinction … I saved my consideration and prayed. I felt extra snug within the swing.”
Choi entered the ultimate spherical with a one-stroke lead over Australian Richard Inexperienced, who was bidding for his first main on the Champions Tour.
Inexperienced shot a 71 on Sunday to complete in second place at 8-under. He shot even-par on the entrance 9 earlier than recording 4 birdies in opposition to three bogeys on the again 9.
Inexperienced ended up two strokes forward of England’s Paul Broadhurst (70 on Sunday), who gained the event in 2016 at Carnoustie.
“Just a little bit tentative, leaving all the things a foot and a half brief,” Broadhurst stated. “I had a little bit of a run at it on 12 and hit it six ft by and made it coming again.
“Clearly Okay.J. has performed very well across the again. I do not know what occurred, however he went from nowhere to 4 clear. He is clearly killed it someplace across the mid a part of the spherical. So nice stuff to him. He is performed very well.”
Canadian Stephen Ames, the first-round chief, carded a 71 to reside in fourth place at 3-under, one stroke forward of a seven-golfer contingent in fifth place.
Eire’s Padraig Harrington, who was included in that blend, had completed second on the occasion in every of the previous two years. He overcame a disastrous begin to the ultimate spherical — a triple bogey and a double bogey on the primary two holes — and made a spirited rally to complete with a 72 on Sunday.
“Yeah, look, that is what occurs on this sport,” Harrington stated. “I knew I needed to push right now. I feel even after that, the couple of eagle possibilities, I had three good eagle possibilities there. I may have slipped a number of extra putts in. However the excellent news for me is Okay.J. has run away with it, which is a pleasant factor. I’d hate to be ending up right now and 6-under par, 7-under par was profitable; it was would have been a disappointing day.”
Discipline Degree Media and The Related Press contributed to this report.
