Major champ Toms game for CJ golf

Major champion David Toms of the US will have a friendly score to settle with C.J. Invitational host K.J. Choi when the $750,000 event tees off Thursday.

Toms, who was defeated by Choi in a playoff at the 2011 Players Championship, hopes to even the score by denying Choi a third straight win at the Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Club here. No player in Asian Tour history has won the same tournament in three successive years.

"Hopefully I'll have a chance at winning this week without trying to beat KJ in a playoff. I think KJ's win at the Players Championship did a whole lot more for golf in Korea and Asia. I certainly wanted to win it because it is a great event but his win certainly did more good than if I had won," said Toms.

Toms, winner of the 2001 US PGA Championship, make-up a star-studded cast at the event which includes current Order of Merit leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, multiple Asian Tour winner Scott Hend of Australia and India's rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar.

"I played in Korea just before I got my US PGA Tour card so you can say that part of my experience in Asia kind of propelled me to go to bigger things," said the 46-year-old.

The talented Kim Si-woo, who made it through all four 2012 US PGA Tour qualifying school stages but was not eligible to become a member at 17, will also be in the elite field this week.

Lee Dong-hwan was one-shot off the lead heading into the last day at the 2012 CJ Invitational but slipped back to tied 11th after a final round 75. He said he has learnt from the experience and is prepared to launch another title assault.

The CJ Invitational Hosted by KJ Choi will also be the final event counting towards the qualification of the WGC-HSBC Champions later this month.