While the Australian carded a six-over-par 76 to tumble into a tie for third, the 37-year-old recorded a 68 to finish three strokes ahead of Steve Stricker.

It was the sixth career victory for Choi, who also won Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament title on June 3, and the South Koren now has the most PGA titles among Asian-born players.

“This tournament is just too big for me to really absorb right now,” he said. “But it’s a very big win for me and definitely the biggest win of my career. I’m just shocked at myself being able to win Jack and Tiger’s tournament.

“You know, I can’t really express in words what this means to me. All I can say is I just did my best. Both wins are very special to me. I mean, I can’t really say which one makes me feel better. They are both valuable.

“One thing I can say is Tiger’s trophy is a lot heavier than Jack’s trophy, if that means anything.”

Stricker was three-under after the front nine before three bogeys in five holes coming back scuppered his chances of victory.

It was the second time this season Stricker has finished runner-up after losing out to Woods at the Wachovia Championship, although he was philosophical about the fact.

“There have been a couple of guys that have just played better,” he said. “It could have been the other way just as easy, I suppose. But the two guys that won, Tiger and K.J., they played well.

“And you know, it’s just up to me, and that’s the way I always looked at it; that it’s up to me to make the putt, make the birdies or finish it off coming down the stretch and I just haven’t done it.”

Appleby got off to a horrendous start with a double bogey at the second before four bogeys in a row from the fourth onwards ruined his hopes of victory.

The Australian eventually ended in a tie for third place alongside Jim Furyk and Pat Perez on three under par.

Furyk felt in the end, he just came up short.

“I showed a lot of good signs out there and if I had knocked in a couple of putts on the back nine, and got some momentum going, I really could have probably come close to scaring the leaders,” he said.

“But as it was, I didn’t.”

Woods, playing in his first tournament since the birth of his daughter on June 18, tied for sixth with Robert Allenby after finishing two under par.

“I didn’t get a ’W,’ (win) so that was frustrating in that sense,” Woods said. “But this tournament in general has been a bigger success than anyone could have imagined.”