Golf Gear Newswire : KJ delights in Choi-ce Augusta pairing with Tiger

AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 6 (Reuters) - Some players would be worried about a pairing with Tiger Woods on his return to golf this week at the Masters but K.J. Choi said he welcomed the chance after being drawn to play with the world number one.

The South Korean told a small group of reporters behind the 18th green after a practice round on Tuesday that an official told him at the 15th hole that he would be grouped with Woods.

Choi, the leading Asian player of the last decade with seven U.S. PGA Tour wins, said he had a premonition he would get to play with Woods.

“I sort of had a feeling when I left Dallas to come here,” former weightlifter Choi said. “I said to myself, ‘It would be cool if I was paired with Tiger.’ And it happened.

“It’s a good surprise.”

Choi and American Matt Kuchar will tee off with Woods at 1342 (1742 GMT) at Augusta National in the year’s first major and the first appearance by Woods in nearly five months since revelations of a string of marital infidelities.

The crush of spectators that routinely follow Woods can be a distraction for playing partners in ordinary circumstances but the curiosity about how well he will do and the crowd’s reaction to him promises to create even more of a spectacle.

“I love to play with him. I’ve played with Tiger a few times. I’m not going to be bothered by the number of galleries there,” Choi said through his interpreter Michael Yim.

“I actually like playing with big crowds, so I think I’m going to be playing a little bit more aggressive and I’m looking forward to it.

“For me, I’m used to playing with Tiger. When you play with Tiger there’s a certain aura or atmosphere that’s very different as opposed to when you play with other players.

“I know what that feels like so I’m used to it and don’t think it will bother me at all,” said Choi.

Kuchar, who was paired with then-defending champion Woods in 1998 as the U.S. Amateur champion making his Augusta debut, said: “It’s going to be exciting.

“Tiger was great to play with. I was nervous. I was nervous to be an amateur. I was nervous to be here for the first time. I was nervous to be playing with Tiger but he was great.”

Kuchar said he preferred playing in front of a big gallery. “When you play in front of 12 people you see every face. When it’s a big crowd they kind of blend together.”

By Larry Fine

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