The Korean golfer who defeated David Toms in a playoff to win the 2011 Players Championship was K. J. Choi. Choi and Toms finished the tournament tied at 13 under par, forcing a sudden-death playoff at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.
The playoff began on the famous par-three 17th hole, whose green is surrounded by water. Both players reached the island green, but Toms missed his par attempt after his birdie try ran past the hole. Choi then converted his short par putt to win the championship.
The victory was Choi’s first Players Championship and his eighth PGA Tour title. It was also his first PGA Tour victory since 2008 and remains one of the defining achievements of his career. A frequent mix-up is confusing this event with the Masters or the PGA Championship; The Players is a separate PGA Tour tournament, often called the “fifth major” because of its elite field and status.