Establishment (K.J. Choi) vs. Youth (Adam Scott)

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Jul. 5, 2011
By Zak Kozuchowski, PGATOUR.COM

One of the themes for the 2011 PGA TOUR season is the competition involving the younger players and the established ones. How will the veteran players -- those with significant TOUR experience and long-standing championship pedigree -- fare against the hungry up-and-comers who are looking to nudge their way into the TOUR's elite?

Each week, PGATOUR.COM will select two players and analyze their chances heading into the tournament. We'll then track which player has the better score for his team, and keep a running team tally throughout the year.

This week for the AT&T National we've selected South Korea's K.J. Choi and Adam Scott of Australia. Both players have multiple PGA TOUR wins, including THE PLAYERS Championship, as well as several international victories. Choi and Scott rank third and fourth, respectively, in the International standings for the Presidents Cup and will likely be teammates again in November. But despite their similarities, Choi and Scott play very different games and have distinct on-course demeanors.

Matchups Game
Choi vs. Scott: Who do you like?
It all started last week at the Travelers Championship and will run through the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (Sept. 22-25), the PGA TOUR is introducing a new, easy Matchups Game on Facebook. Pick the winner of five head-to-head matchups (including Choi vs. Scott) for a chance to win prizes. Matchups Game preview: AT&T National



ESTABLISHMENT
AGE: 41
YEARS ON TOUR: This is K.J. Choi's 12th year on the PGA TOUR. He's won eight times, including THE PLAYERS this year and the Memorial in 2007. He's also won eight times in Europe and Asia.
OVERVIEW: Before Choi was a golfer, he was a power lifter. He no longer lifts heavy weights, but the discipline he learned in the gyms of South Korea as a teen is evident in his game. His nickname, Tank, describes his sturdy frame as well as his mental toughness. He doesn't drive the ball particularly far and isn't the best iron player on TOUR, but he grinds out pars with his surgical short game. He's ranked sixth in sand-save percentage and 18th in scrambling from 10 to 20 yards. From time-to-time, Choi struggles with his putter, which caused him to experiment with a sidesaddle method at the British Open last year. But he quickly returned to a conventional putter with an oversized-style grip that he's been using for years.
HISTORY IN THIS EVENT: Choi won the inaugural AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in 2007 with a score of 9 under. He tied for 49th in 2008 and missed the cut in 2009. In 2010, the tournament moved from the Washington D.C. area to Aronimink Golf Club in the Philadelphia area as Congressional was preparing to host this year's U.S. Open. Choi did not play in the event in 2010, so this will be his first visit to Aronimink.
OUTLOOK THIS WEEK: Choi has cooled off since he defeated David Toms in extra holes at THE PLAYERS, but Aronimink looks to suit his style of play. The tree-lined Donald Ross design plays less than 7,000 yards. It boasts 75 bunkers, but that won't scare the sand-savvy South Korean.
 


YOUTH
AGE: 30
YEARS ON TOUR: This is Adam Scott's ninth full season on the PGA TOUR. He's won seven times, including THE PLAYERS Championship in 2004 and the Valero Texas Open in 2010. He also has 10 international wins.
OVERVIEW: Scott won his first PGA TOUR event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, at the age of 24. His silky swing has produced some of the most consistent results on TOUR -- he is currently third in total driving and 16th in ball striking -- but the Aussie has never found the same consistency with his putter. Like Choi, Scott has tried different methods on the greens. He worked closely with putting guru Dave Stockton before his win at the 2010 Valero Texas Open, but less than a year later, he abandoned Stockton's style and opted for a long putter, which he used in route to a tie for second at the Masters. Off the course Scott enjoys surfing, which adds to the Aussie's easygoing persona. His good looks and fashion sense have landed him endorsements with luxury brands Aquascutum and Rolex, and the bachelor's galleries are a good place to spot some of the TOUR's most attractive female fans.
HISTORY IN THIS EVENT: Scott has only played in the AT&T National once, in 2007 when it was held at Congressional, and he missed the cut.
OUTLOOK THIS WEEK: At the Masters, Scott putted beautifully with his long putter, which appears to have reenergized his game. He says he now feels more confident with putts inside 10 feet -- the kind he will need to make this week. He has two top-10s this year and four finishes in the top 25. Scott is also borrowing Tiger Woods' caddy, Steve Williams, this week. Scott insists the move is not permanent -- Williams is a friend -- and is just filling in week-to-week as Scott looks for a permanent caddie. Their first partnership this year at the U.S. Open resulted in a missed cut.
Here are the results of the previous matchups this year
    Score/Finish Tournament   Score/Finish  
Steve Stricker 20 under (T-4th) Hyundai TOC Dustin Johnson 14 under (T-9th)  
Ernie Els 4 under (T-42nd) Sony Open Jason Day 8 under (T-20th)
Stewart Cink 5 under (MC) Bob Hope Classic Bubba Watson 7 under (MC)
Davis Love III 5 over (MC) Farmers Insurance Open Rickie Fowler 5 under (T20)
Angel Cabrera 7 under (T-49th) Waste Management Phoenix Jhonattan Vegas 2 under (MC)  
  Padraig Harrington 2 over (T63) AT&T Pebble Beach National Dustin Johnson Even (T55)
Jim Furyk 1 under (T35) Northern Trust Open Louis Oosthuizen 3 over (T62)  
  Vijay Singh 9 over (MC) The Honda Classic Anthony Kim 7 over (MC)
Luke Donald 11 under (T6) WGC-Cadillac Championship Jhonattan Vegas 2 under (T31)  
Sergio Garcia 7 under (T15) Transitions Championship Matteo Manassero 6 under (T20)  
Phil Mickelson 1 under (T24) Arnold Palmer Invitational Graeme McDowell 9 over (MC)  
  Fred Couples Even (T60) Shell Houston Open Gary Woodland 10 under (T13)
Tiger Woods 10 under (T4) The Masters Martin Kaymer 6 over (MC)  
Justin Leonard 2 under (T30) Valero Texas Open Anthony Kim 7 over (MC)  
  Jim Furyk 5 under (T21) The Heritage Jason Day 7 under (T9)
David Toms 7 under (T18) Zurich Classic of New Orleans Brandt Snedeker 2 over (MC)  
Phil Mickelson 10 under (T9) Wells Fargo Championship Bubba Watson 3 under (T48)  
  Tiger Woods Withdrew THE PLAYERS Championship Charl Schwartzel 6 under (T26)
Paul Goydos 5 under (T10) Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Jason Day 3 under (T31)  
  Vijay Singh 5 over (T27) HP Byron Nelson Championship Nick Watney 1 over (T8)
  Jim Furyk 8 over (MC) the Memorial Tournament Bubba Watson 1 under (T42)
  David Toms 5 over (MC) FedEx St. Jude Classic Camilo Villegas 8 under (3)
  Ernie Els 6 over (MC) U.S. Open Graeme McDowell 2 under (T14)
  Padraig Harrington 4 under (T63) Travelers Championship Aaron Baddeley 11 under (T24)
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