BETHESDA, Md. (AP) -- Five weeks ago K.J. Choi received a trophy from Jack Nicklaus. On Sunday, he got one from Tiger Woods.
The biggest name in South Korean golf was again the prized guest at a golf party thrown by an American star, punctuating an adventurous back nine with a great bunker shot on his way to a three-stroke victory over Steve Stricker at the inaugural AT&T National.
Choi shot a final-round 68 for a 9-under 271 total to win for the sixth time on the PGA Tour, the most victories by an Asian-born player, and his $1.08 million first-place check matched the one he got for winning Nicklaus' Memorial last month.
This week, Woods joined Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as players to host a tour event. The event was a red, white and blue spectacle surrounding the Fourth of July, but Choi added to the international flair, attracting a substantial gallery of local Korean-Americans that cheered him in his native language.
Stricker was among several possible contenders who struggled with the bumpy greens on a sweltering day at Congressional Country Club.
ADVERTISEMENT
U.S. Senior Open
HAVEN, Wis. -- Brad Bryant took advantage of another U.S. Senior Open flameout by Tom Watson, shooting a 4-under-par 68 to complete the second-biggest comeback in tournament history.
Bryant's birdie on the 16th hole at Whistling Straits gave him the lead as Watson frittered away six shots in a five-hole stretch on the back nine -- the latest in a series of final-round disappointments for Watson in the high-profile senior major.
Bryant, 52, won only once in more than two decades on the PGA Tour. But he finished third on the Champions Tour money list last year with two victories, and won again earlier this year at the Regions Charity Classic in Birmingham, Ala., in May.
Watson shot a 6-over 78 to finish 1 under for the tournament, behind Bryant, Ben Crenshaw at 3 under and Loren Roberts at 2 under.
European Open
STRAFFAN, Ireland -- Colin Montgomerie shot a 5-under 65 to win the European Open after 19 months without a title.
The 44-year-old Scot had seven birdies to come from four shots behind and finish with an 11-under 269 and win his first title since the Hong Kong Open in December 2005.
