Golf-Open-I'm getting closer to winning a major - Korean Choi

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

SOUTHPORT, England, July 20 (Reuters) - Although bitterly disappointed with his British Open finish on Sunday, South Korea's KJ Choi felt he gained significant ground in his lifelong bid to become a major champion.

"What I gained from this week is I'm closer towards my goal of winning a major," Choi told reporters. "It was a very good experience for me and it's not very far away.

"I feel my game (on links courses) has improved and I look forward to the U.S. PGA Championship (next month)."

The world number 11 began the final round at a wind-buffeted Royal Birkdale two strokes off the pace but tumbled back into a tie for 16th after shooting a nine-over-par 79.

He dropped six shots in the first eight holes and signed off with an ugly quadruple-bogey eight at the last, where he hit his tee shot out-of-bounds, for a 13-over tally of 293.

"I didn't have any feel with my putting this weekend," said Choi, who led by a stroke after the second round before ending it 10 behind winner Padraig Harrington.

NO FEELING