KJ Choi became the first South Korean to win on the USPGA Tour after an impressive victory at the Compaq Classic in New Orleans.

Choi led over the final three rounds, finishing with a total of 17 under par after a last-round 67.

He finished four shots ahead of Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Dudley Hart.

A former powerlifter who took up the game at the age of 16, Choi won for the first time in 74 USPGA Tour starts.

He had never placed better than fourth, but his first prize of 810,000 US dollars was more than his combined earnings in his first two years on tour.

Choi had at least a share of the lead throughout the final round, holding off a chasing group that included Chris DiMarco, David Toms and Phil Mickelson - all of whom began the week 11th or better in the world rankings.

DiMarco lipped out a birdie putt at the 12th hole, bogeyed two of his last five and finished in a tie for fourth at 276.

Toms bogeyed the 13th, double-bogeyed the 16th and ended up seven strokes back at 278.

Mickelson, ranked second behind Tiger Woods, used a hot start to close within two shots but played the final 12 holes even and tied Toms and four others for ninth.

Scores

271 KJ Choi (Kor) 68 65 71 67

275 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 70 67 71 67, Dudley Hart 68 71 69 67

276 Mike Sposa 72 68 68 68, John Cook 74 67 69 66, Chris DiMarco 72 66 70 68, Dan Forsman 65 69 72 70

277 Nick Price (Zim) 74 67 70 66

278 Tim Clark 68 67 75 68, Bryce Molder 69 67 69 73, David Toms 69 69 71 69, Scott Verplank 69 69 73 67, Phil Mickelson 73 66 71 68

279 Rich Beem 67 70 74 68, Steve Stricker 69 70 71 69

280 Charles Howell III 71 72 68 69, John Rollins 68 69 68 75, Chad Campbell 72 72 70 66, Duffy Waldorf 73 66 75 66, Olin Browne 72 68 70 70, Joel Edwards 74 68 71 67, Steve Elkington (Aus) 70 71 69 70

281 Kenneth Staton 73 71 70 67, Peter Lonard (Aus) 76 67 66 72, Tom Scherrer 74 69 68 70, Kirk Triplett 71 72 72 66, Fulton Allem (Rsa) 70 69 72 70, Bob Estes 70 71 75 65, Fred Funk 71 71 71 68, Scott McCarron 74 67 70 70

282 Bart Bryant 69 73 67 73, Stewart Cink 68 72 72 70, Stephen Ames (Tri) 68 74 69 71

283 Jonathan Byrd 69 75 69 70, Bob Heintz 69 72 72 70, Michael Muehr 71 69 74 69, Chris Riley 71 72 70 70, Jim Carter 70 71 74 68, David Frost (Rsa) 72 69 74 68, Billy Mayfair 73 71 71 68, Shaun Micheel 69 70 71 73

284 Matt Peterson 72 68 77 67, Brent Schwarzrock 73 70 70 71, Bob Burns 70 74 70 70, JP Hayes 71 72 74 67, Jeff Maggert 69 70 69 76, Brett Quigley 72 68 69 75, Bubba Dickerson 70 70 75 69

285 Craig Perks (Nzl) 76 68 70 71, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 75 67 68 75, Brandt Jobe 72 68 72 73, Steve Flesch 71 67 73 74, Paul Stankowski 73 71 70 71, David Sutherland 70 73 71 71, Billy Andrade 70 66 71 78, Frank Nobilo (Nzl) 71 72 71 71

286 Brett Wetterich 73 70 68 75, Stephen Allan (Aus) 71 71 74 70, Michael Allen 71 70 71 74, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 68 72 74 72, Dennis Paulson 72 72 73 69

287 Brian Bateman 70 72 75 70, JJ Henry 70 69 77 71, John Huston 74 69 75 69, Peter Jordan 71 70 73 73, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 71 70 72 74

288 Jess Daley 71 73 76 68, Jeff Brehaut 74 70 73 71, Kent Jones 72 71 71 74, Scott Simpson 70 71 75 72, Bob Tway 74 70 67 77, Grant Waite (Nzl) 69 75 71 73, Tommy Armour III 74 68 75 71, Joe Durant 69 72 78 69, Jeff Gallagher 68 76 74 70, Skip Kendall 70 73 68 77, Blaine McCallister 73 69 75 71

289 Brandel Chamblee 72 71 70 76, Brad Lardon 73 68 73 75

290 Jeff Sluman 72 72 68 78

292 Tommy Tolles 72 69 75 76

296 Mike Standly 73 69 76 78