Does Winning at TPC Make KJ Choi An “Elite” Golfer?

Congratulations KJ Choi! He needed only one extra playoff hole to edge David Toms on Sunday at The Players Championship. This is by far his biggest win on the PGA Tour and is also a milestone for Asian golfers, he becomes the first Asian winner at TPC Sawgrass.

What does this mean for Choi in the long run? Will this new level of achievement allow him to take his game to the next level and become a “first name” golfer here in America like Phil and Tiger?

In my opinion, he’s got what it takes but needs another Major win this year to solidify his status with casual golf fans and, more importantly, advertisers. I’ll be keepin’ a close eye on Mr. Choi this year and hope he keeps winning big!

Shape your shot like KJ Choi! Check out this instructional video at GolfDigest.com!

But for many the talk of the tourney was Graeme McDowell adding his name to the long list of golfers who have come up short on Sunday. “One of my top 10 worst rounds ever,” he said, and this Caveman can’t muster any evidence to the contrary. His 79-stroke final round took away his one-shot lead from the start of the day and left him frustrated, to say the least. “The life just drained right out of me,” he said. “My leg work was pretty sloppy on the back nine there. It was a pretty ugly finish and I was just trying to get out of [his playing partners’] way a little bit after. It was a lonely place out there.”

I’ve been a big fan of Graeme since his surprising US Open win in June 2010, but how he handles this setback will say a lot about his future in professional golf. We’re rootin’ for you here at Rock Bottom Golf, Graeme!

-Scratch

PS: Read more about Graeme McDowell’s bad round and see how it compares to Rory McIlroy’s collapse at Augusta in April at The Guardian