By DAMON HACK

In the midst of a wicked putting slump, K.J. Choi resorted to the well-worn path of the 30-handicapper. He watched an infomercial that all but promised to change his life. Choi grabbed his telephone, dialed the toll-free number and prepared to make two easy payments for an oversized putting grip.

"It did look ridiculously big," Choi said. "I hesitated to take it out to a tournament because of how big it was."

Choi has remained faithful to the putting grip in what has already been the best season of his career.

"In the past, every time I finished my round, there was something about my putting that was missing." Choi said through his interpreter and manager, Michael Yim. "There was something inside telling me."

When Choi received the new grip, he practiced behind closed doors and drawn curtains, Yim joked that Choi practiced in a closet.

The week before the AT&T National in July though, Choi decided to break it out in the tournament. He opened with a 66, finished with a 68 and took home $1.08 million for his second victory of the year.

"It just worked well and exactly as I thought," said Choi, who is fifth in the FedEx Cup points standings. "It just kept me from not using my wrist too much and using my shoulders to putt, It's really worked well so far."

®2007 The New York Times Company