Choi holds on and wins by three shots

HONOLULU -- K.J. Choi had to work harder than he imagined to become the Sony Open champion.

Equipped with a four-shot lead, Choi struggled in blustery conditions Sunday at Waialae Country Club and held off a late charge by Rory Sabbatini to close with a one-over-par 71, the first Sony Open champion in 41 years with a final round over par.

That was more a testament to the wind that caused palm trees to sway and made birdies scarce. Sabbatini managed six of them in a spirited run at Choi, but he three-putted the final hole for par from 65 feet for a 68, leaving him three shots behind.

Choi won for the seventh time on the PGA Tour, and for the fourth consecutive season.

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh are the only other players with active streaks that long.

But it wasn’t easy until the end. Choi didn’t make his first birdie until the final hole when the outcome was no longer in doubt. He finished at 14-under 266 and earned $954,000.

Sabbatini started six shots behind, took a double bogey on No. 8, and still managed to make a game of it.

“All things considered, I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season,” he said.

Sabbatini had six birdies, the final one a sand wedge to four feet on the 16th to get within two shots, as Choi was struggling to make par three groups behind him. Choi settled down with a par from just off the 16th green, a chip that caught part of the cup on the 17th, and breathing room when he stepped on the 18th tee with a two-shot lead.

Jerry Kelly closed with a bogey-free 67 to finish alone in third.

The last Sony Open champion to close with a round over par was Dudley Wysong, who beat Billy Casper in a playoff in 1967.