K.J. Choi is as ready as he's ever been to carry the expectations of a continent on his shoulders.

K.J. Choi is hot on the heels of Tiger Woods' PGA Tour wins. In 18 months' time, he won the 2006 Chrysler Championship, 2007 Memorial Tournament and AT&T National, and 2008 Sony Open. (Associated Press)

"I've played golf a long time and the best ever in the last year," Choi said.

In the past 18 months, only one golfer has won more PGA Tour events than Choi's four. And though Choi might not be a threat to Tiger Woods' assault on the all-time win list, he is a definite threat to challenge Woods in upcoming major championships.

"Very big goal," Choi said. "Everybody wants to see, and they say 'K.J., you can do it.' I'm not under pressure. But 147 years ago starting major tournaments, to be the first-ever Asian player to win a major, it's very interesting, and everybody is supporting me."

That Choi has done the math about the majors dating back to the first British Open in 1860 shows the extent to which the majors are on his mind now that he has become one of the top 10 players in the world.

Of the four majors, the Masters Tournament holds his attention the most. Played on a pine-shrouded rolling landscape similar to his native island of Wando, South Korea, the tournament has felt comfortable for Choi since he tied for 15th in his first Masters in 2003.

He contended deep into Sunday's round and finished third in 2004 -- the highest finish ever for an Asian player. Choi shot 30 on the front nine in the second round (40 on the back) and 31 on the back nine on Sunday.

"I'm very proud of this at Augusta National," he said. "I've played very well this year and hopefully have a chance to win."

Choi has seven career PGA Tour wins, including at least one in four consecutive seasons and his wire-to-wire victory in Hawaii in January. Only Woods (13 years), Vijay Singh (six) and Phil Mickelson (five) have longer streaks.

His evolution has him on the brink of a major breakthrough.

"K.J.'s got the game, got all the shots, and he's got the mind for it and body for it," said Steve Bann, the Australian golf instructor who has been working with Choi during his recent span of success. "Given the right opportunity, he's a good closer. He drives the ball so well now, really there's no major that he can't win."

But the Masters is at the front of his goals.

"I would love to win any one of them, but for some reason -- maybe it's because I came too close to winning the Masters -- my heart is really with the Masters," Choi said. "I have tremendous respect for that golf course and the tournament. Just the fact that I've been playing in the Masters the past few years, I feel so proud about that."

Another motivation is the lure of earning a place beside his idol, Jack Nicklaus, at the table for the Champions Dinner. His earliest recollection of the Masters was Nicklaus' dramatic win in 1986 -- the same year Choi learned how to play the game at age 16 from a picture book on golf instruction written by Nicklaus.

"As I started reading it, I could understand why he was such a great golfer, because all the things that were written really started to make sense," Choi said.

Choi made his PGA Tour debut in 1999, when he was invited as the top Asian player to participate in Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament. In the third round, he was paired with Nicklaus.

"I was very nervous and very confused," Choi said with a broad smile. "So many people. He was very generous and very humble and played very well. In the same life together, Jack and me."

Later that year, Choi became the first Korean golfer to earn his PGA Tour card and began a one-way immersion into the American touring life. He would spend many days on the range mesmerized, watching other prominent tour players practice, motivating his own work.

Eight years later, Choi won the Memorial and was seated next to Nicklaus at the news conference.

"I win the tournament last year, and he gave me the trophy," Choi said, still beaming over his June victory. "Unbelievable. Best ever as good memory."

Potential better memories await for a player considered among the best in the world without a career-validating title.

"I'm not trying to win a major just to gain respect or just to gain more fan support or increase my fan base," Choi said. "I want to win a major because I want to win a major, and that's my goal. I'm a professional golfer, and winning a major is the highest achievement a professional golfer can achieve. I think if I work hard and win that major, all the rest will just follow that."

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.