K.J.'s Shoots -5 at Reno-Tahoe But Misses Cut

August 24, 2001

Whatever you do, never underestimate K.J. Choi's ability to get out of a bind.

After posting a seemingly disastrous 4-over par 76 in the 1st round at the Reno-Tahoe Open on Thursday, it looked as though K.J. dug himself a hole too deep to get out of.

K.J. 's 100% driving accuracy did little to help his poor putting (2.125) and approach shots to the green (GIR 44.4%) which caused him to make 6 bogeys in the 1st round. He put up two birdies during the round.

With a lot of ground to make up for on Friday, K.J. started the first three holes off with pars before making birdies on the Par 5 4th hole and Par 4 5th hole. Another bogey at the 6th hole set him back to 3-over par with the cut line projected at -1 at the time.

After the 12th hole, K.J. still found himself at 3-over par with only six more holes to go. Did K.J. have another so called chat with God as he did during the PGA Championship?

Whatever it was, K.J. birdied the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes to get to even par but still one shy of the projected cut. With pars on both the 16th and 17th, K.J.'s last chance was on the Par 4, 429-yard 18th hole. He made birdie.

In a turnabout fashion, K.J. posted six birdies and only one bogey to shoot 5-under par 67 in round 2, vaulting him up from 136th to 62nd (by the time he finished his round) at 1-under par and with the possibility of making the cut into the weekend. But as other players moved up later in the round, the projected cut line was moved to -2.

K.J. Stat Comparison in Round 1 & 2 (Short game is where it's at!)

Stats	Round 1	Round 2
Driving Accuracy	100%	84.6%
Driving Distance	292.5	458.5 (?)
Putts per Round	31	23
Putts per GIR	2.125	1.50
Greens in Regulation	44.4%	62.5%
Sand Saves	0.0%	50.0%

K.J. may have just missed the cut by a stroke but what a gutsy never-surrender performance he put on today.

Reported by Michael I. Ohr (K.J. Fan Central)