KJ Choi leads Farmers Insurance Open

Report by Asian Tour/PGA TOUR
January 31, 2016: Asian Tour honorary member K.J. Choi of Korea continued his dominance at the Farmers Insurance Open by returning with a third round even-par 72 to share the lead with American Scott Brown going into the final round of the PGA TOUR event.

Choi made a remarkable recovery in his last six holes where he posted three birdies and saved par three times to keep himself in contention for his ninth win on the PGA TOUR.

“I hit it very well. This week my iron play and putting is much better than it was the last week of the season. I had very good control with my putter,” said Choi, who compiled a three-day total of nine-under-par 207.

At the Commerial Bank Qatar Masters, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee finished tied-20th after closing with a final round 71 while Kiradech Aphibarnrat signed for a 74 for a share of 52nd place.

Australia’s Andrew Dodt struggled to a 76 to end the week tied for 59th while 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States finished outright 73rd with his 297 total.

Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler each missed the cut, though Torrey Pines still has a local favorite to cheer. That would be Michael Kim, the Cal grad who went to Torrey Pines High School and grew up watching Mickelson and Tiger Woods win here. Kim had a 70 and was among four players at 7-under 209.

Another shot back was a group that included Dustin Johnson, who didn’t make a birdie until the 13th hole and still managed to limit the damage to a 74.

Choi hasn’t won since THE PLAYERS Championship in 2011, which gave him a five-year exemption that ends this year. He was an assistant captain in the Presidents Cup in October, and showed he still has plenty of game. Giving him 30 yards off the tee to Johnson and Woodland, he rarely was out of play and dropped shots mainly on a three-putt bogey at No. 5 and a poor chip across the green at No. 7 that led to double bogey.

But he got back into the mix with his strong finish, particularly the par saves on the 15th and 16th holes.

Brown appeared to be the most relaxed, maybe because of his home life. His wife, Allison, gave birth to their second daughter a week ago Tuesday. Brown said that might have put him at ease this week, and he recorded back-to-back top-10s on the PGA TOUR for the first time in 2012 right after their first daughter was born.

But he did not dismiss the work he put in over the offseason with swing coach John Tillery, or even the inspiration from good friend and Aiken, South Carolina, neighbor Kevin Kisner, who has been among the best players on tour over the last year and who routinely beats him in games at Palmetto Golf Club.