Choi was in complete control following his opening eagle

FINAL LEADERBOARD:
US unless stated
-13 K J Choi (Kor)
-9 P Goydos, B Wetterich
-8 J Durant, J Byrd
-7 R Pampling (Aus), E Els (SA), J Parnevik (Swe)
Selected others:
-3 V Singh (Fij)
-2 J Rose (Eng)

South Korean KJ Choi fired a four-under 67 on Sunday to claim the fourth US title of his career, the Chrysler Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida.

The overnight leader by one, Choi made a great start when he eagled the par-five 1st and never looked back.

He finished on 13 under, four clear of American pair Paul Goydos and Brett Wetterich, who posted a fine 66.

Ernie Els, who began one off the lead, had hoped to record his first PGA Tour win for two years but went backwards.

The 37-year-old South African missed a short birdie putt at the 1st and then bogeyed the 2nd.

After the front nine I knew the tournament was over for me but I still had to try and get a top-five finish Ernie Els

An eagle at the 14th did repair some of the damage, however, and his one-over 72 was still good enough for a share of sixth place and a berth in next week's season-ending Tour Championship.

But only just. Els had to save par from a bunker on the 17th, then pitched back to the fairway on the 18th after driving into the trees and hit a wedge from 51 yards that stopped inches away for a tap-in par.

Had he made bogey, he would have finished 31st on the money list by �449 - only the top 30 qualify for the Tour Championship.

"The last two up-and-downs were big," said Els. "I'll remember those for a long time.

"You go through a process like this you appreciate getting to the Tour Championship. Normally you just walk in there but this time it was hard work.

"After the front nine I knew the tournament was over for me but I knew I still had to try and get a top-five finish."

Joining Els at East Lake next week will be the 36-year-old Choi, whose win in Florida took him to 26th on the money list.

Goydos will also be happy with his week, as his runner-up cheque moved him to 97th on the money list and prevented a return to qualifying school.

There was also good news for Darren Clarke.

The Northern Irishman finished the season at 125th on the money list, the cut-off point at which players keep their full playing privileges on the US Tour.