"It has a lot of implications for this year," Choi said. "I think the biggest thing I learned this week is no matter what the conditions are out there, you have to stay patient. And I think this experience here in Hawaii is going to help me prepare for the major tournaments."
Sabbatini also got a nice lift.
After a four-week vacation that began in turmoil when he bailed out of the Target World Challenge one round early, he tied for 17th and was runner-up in his first two events, coming off the best season of his career.
"It gives me a lot to look forward to," said Sabbatini, who moved back into the top 10 in the world.
Jerry Kelly had a remarkable round without a bogey, closing with a 67 that also had world ranking implications. The top 64 get into the Accenture Match Play Championship next month, and he was on the bubble until his third-place finish, which moved him up 12 spots to No. 52 with four weeks left to qualify.
Steve Stricker again got off to a slow start in Hawaii, but squeezed a tie for fourth out of it.
Choi was serenaded by a Hawaiian band in the clubhouse at Waialae, then headed for the airport to fly home to Houston. He won't return until the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, the debut of Woods and Mickelson.
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