Golf: Only a month after Rory McIlroy shot 80 to blow his chance at The Masters, Graeme McDowell had his own horror show in America last night. From joint leader of the Players Championship with just 13 holes to play, Northern Ireland's US Open champion crashed to 33rd place with a 79.

Like his Ryder Cup partner at Augusta, it was the worst final round of anybody in a tournament won by Korean KJ Choi after a play-off with American David Toms.

But while McIlroy blamed inexperience for what happened, McDowell put his Sawgrass collapse down to fatigue.

"To be honest I felt I ran out of steam a little bit," he said after completing his misery by going in water on the last two holes. "After bogeys on six and seven I felt the energy sucked right out of me. I went flat and everything I tried to do went a little wrong.

"I felt my legs were a little tired this afternoon. I was up at 4.35am (to play the last 12 holes of his third round), but it was the same for everybody, there are no excuses.

"I didn't have the energy levels to pick myself up and I tried to force the issue a little bit. I went chasing and this course will do that to you. This is going to hurt for a few hours, but we will move on quickly."

McDowell had come into the event on the back of three missed cuts in his four previous starts and added: "I said that no matter what happened over the weekend I was going to take some really big positives."

However, the fact remains that he had been three clear with one to play in the third round and finished eight behind. And that is not far removed from McIlroy's meltdown. The 22-year-old went from four in front to 10 adrift.

Choi, meanwhile, claimed his eighth victory in the States - more than any other Asian player and one worth over €1.2 million - after a thrilling climax.

Toms, without a win for more than six years, was one in front with three to go, but bogeyed the long 16th after hitting his second into the lake.

Choi then made a 10-footer for a two at the 130-yard 17th, only for Toms to hole from 17 feet for birdie on the last.

They tied on 13 under and returned to the 17th, where 44-year-old Toms three-putted from 18 feet and allowed 40-year-old Choi to become the fourth successive non-American to triumph after Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Tim Clark.

Choi said: "The back nine is really difficult and puts a lot of pressure on you, but for some reason today I felt very comfortable out there.

"I've worked with my swing coach Steve Bann for over six years now and we've gone through a lot of work together. The swing that I have right now doesn't really break down under pressure situations."

Toms added: "I was very happy with the way I held up the last 31 holes I played today. With the lead or being around the lead the whole time, it's tough when you haven't been there in a while and when you haven't played this golf course well.

"Obviously, three-putting in the play-off wasn't what I'd like to do, but I thought I made the first one. I was probably thinking ahead and thinking about the next hole, and I just got up there and missed it."

Paul Goydos, 47 next month and the player who lost a play-off to Garcia, came third and England's Luke Donald shared fourth with Nick Watney.

Donald needed to win to go to world number one for the first time and was still in with a chance at three behind after a two-putt birdie on the 16th.

He missed an 11-foot chance at the next and, needing a birdie at the last to retain any hope, did well to make par after a wild drive.