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Choi Starts Strong

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The Associated Press

Published: January 11, 2008

HONOLULU - K.J. Choi is accustomed to starting strong at the Sony Open, closing with a birdie for a 6-under 64 that gave him a one-shot lead Thursday and his sixth consecutive opening round in the 60s at Waialae Country Club.
Jimmy Walker usually expects the worst when he comes to these shores.

The former Nationwide Tour player of the year suffered a serious neck injury at the Sony Open in his rookie debut three years ago. Walker returned the next year and shot 80. A reluctant return to Waialae helped erase some bad vibes, as Walker was among three players at 65 on a day of low scoring and no wind.

It was reflected on the scoreboard, with more than half of the 144-man field finishing under par.

That Choi, a two-time winner at Innisbrook Resort, was atop the leaderboard was no surprise. He also opened with a 64 last year and wound up in a tie for fourth. It was a continuation from last week at the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship, where Choi was in last place until closing 69-69.

"I'm getting back to my rhythm," he said.

Heath Slocum, who teamed with Boo Weekley for a runner-up finish at the World Cup in China over Thanksgiving, and Stephen Marino joined Walker at 65. The group at 66 included Mercedes winner Daniel Chopra, Chad Campbell and Rory Sabbatini.

Tadd Fujikawa, who turned 17 on Tuesday, was headed for a short week.

One year after he became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour, Fujikawa never recovered from a double bogey on the second hole. He didn't make birdie until No. 12 and wound up with a 74, leaving him a long shot to earn his first paycheck since turning pro last summer. This is his eighth event as a pro.

The other teenager in the field, 17-year-old amateur Alex Ching, fared slightly better with a 72. Missing from the teen brigade was Michelle Wie, who is not playing the Sony Open for the first time since 2003. That was noticeable only by a sign in the backyard of a house along the first fairway, which was changed from "Wie Why?" last year to "Wie Where?"

JOHANNESBURG OPEN: In his first round as a pro, South African Tyrone Ferreira shot a 6-under 65 to share the lead in Johannesburg, South Africa.

JAPANESE TEEN TURNS PRO: Ryo Ishikawa, the 16-year-old who last year became the youngest winner of a Japanese men's tour event, announced he was turning pro.

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