It was hard to decipher just what K.J. Choi (Stats | Bio) felt was sweetest. One second he spoke about his eagle on 11. The next thought was a breath of gratefulness for a birdie on No. 13.

It was a tough decision. There also were birdies on holes 14 and 16 on his way to shooting a back- nine 31, a score matched only by Casey Wittenberg (Stats | Bio) , Sergio Garcia (Stats | Bio) and Phil Mickelson (Stats | Bio) on Sunday at the Masters Tournament.

The South Korean wiped a bead of sweat from above his eyes. It was about the only moment in the final round anyone saw him sweat.

"Nervous?" Choi said after his round. "No, not nervous. Not me. Not today. I was feeling good."

Choi's back nine was evidence of that. It left him alone in third place with rounds of 71, 70, 72 and 69. An awe-inspiring eagle on 11 got him rolling.

Those who saw it won't likely forget it. Choi holed out his second shot from 215 yards.

"I was downwind," Choi said. "Yesterday, there was a little mud on the ball. Today, there was no mud on the ball. I hit it. The pin was in the middle of the green. It was good, landing down on the green maybe 15 yards (above the cup) and went to the hole."

The crowd, seeing the ball suck back to the hole, went wild. Choi responded with a bow.

"It was Korean style for the move after a high-level shot," Choi said. "If people start clapping for you, that is the right token of appreciation.''

The proper response at the Masters was to get bows in return. Fredrik Jacobson (Stats | Bio) and Kirk Triplett (Stats | Bio) , playing ahead of Choi, bowed as he made his way to the hole.

This appreciation resembled what Choi received on Friday, when he tied the course record with 30 on the front nine.

Sunday, Choi struck again on 13 in a moment he felt set up the rest of his round.

"I hit my third shot left side to the corner in the top," Choi said. "It was downhill, very fast, and it hit in the hole. If it didn't hit the hole, maybe it would be in the water. It was dangerous hole. That hole was very key. Maybe turning point."

Another factor was the success playing partner Ernie Els (Stats | Bio) was having. The 6-foot-3 Els was 7 inches taller, but Choi never got lost in his shadow. Or the roars.

"The (ace) Kirk made in front of us on 16, I never saw that shot, but I just heard that roar, and then K.J. on 11, that ball never left the flag," Els said. "It was great stuff. Great golf."

The 33-year-old Choi never felt overmatched, or any tension.

"It was not pressure," Choi said. "It was fun. Just fun. I just tried to follow along with Ernie."

This was his best finish in a major and on tour this year. Choi finished in a tie for 15th at last year's Masters.

Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.