Choi takes Chysler Championship

One pure shot from the first fairway sent K.J. Choi to an easy victory Sunday in the Chrysler Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla. One clutch shot from the 18th fairway made Ernie Els feel like a winner, too.

Choi hit a 3-wood into 20 feet for an eagle on the opening hole, staking him to a big lead he never surrendered at Innisbrook. Choi closed with a 4-under 67 for a four-shot victory over Paul Goydos (70) and Brett Wetterich (66), making him eligible for the next two tournaments – the Tour Championship next week, and the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship to start next year.

Choi finished at 13-under 271.

Champions Tour

Jim Thorpe won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Sonoma, Calif., with supremely steady play. Thorpe rallied in the final holes to stay on top of a tight field with a 4-under 68 in the Champions Tour’s season-ending event, cruising to a two-stroke victory over Tom Kite. Keith Fergus shot a 66 to finish in third place, three strokes back at 14 under.

Ladies Masters

Annika Sorenstam shot a 3-under 68 to win the Dubai Ladies Masters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, by six strokes.

The top-ranked Swede finished at 18-under 270 on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course.

Helen Alfredsson (67) was second at 276, followed by Karrie Webb (70) at 278.

English star Laura Davies won the tour money title when France’s Gwladys Nocera failed to win the tournament. Nocera (69) finished at 3 under.

LPGA

Jin Joo Hong closed with a 2-under 70 for a three-stroke victory in the Kolon-Hana Bank Championship in Gyeongju, South Korea.

Hong had an 11-under 205 total on the Mauna Ocean Golf Club course, Compatriot Jeong Jang (68) finished second.

Se Ri Pak shot a 67 to finish third at 6 under. Ji-Yai Shin (68) and France’s Karine Icher (72) followed at 5 under, and Paula Creamer (72) was another stroke back.