By MARK CANNIZZARO

Think about an athlete who's near the top of his sport, sitting in front of his TV set so engrossed in an infomercial product that he decides he has to have it. So he picks up the phone, orders it on the spot and puts it in play in the heat of competition. Let us introduce you to K.J. Choi, who's bigger in Korea than Tiger Woods and has won twice this year.

Months ago, Choi watched an infomercial for something called SuperStroke Putting system, which is a thick putter grip that's designed to take the hands out of the stroke and allow the player to use his or her shoulders more.

At Wood's inaugural AT&T National event in July, Choi put the putter into play and won. With that, he created a storm of interest in the grips that look more like tennis-racket grips than golf-club grips.

"Let's put it this way: I haven't slept a lot the last six weeks." Ron Creten, the president of SuperStroke told The Post yesterday. "The last six weeks have been spent trying to get orders out, answering the phone and emails. K.J. was first guy to put it in play and win with it.

"When K.J. took the lead on Friday (at the AT&T) they were starting to talk about it on TV, wondering, 'What is this?' Then the Internet went crazy trying to figure it out and chat rooms were wondering, 'What is this?'

"It's a great story. It goes to show you never know. I know I'm sitting up at night watching these things, but I never knew K.J. Choi would. The funny thing is, I would have sent him one for nothing."

Choi conceded that he was hesitant to put it in play initially because it "looked ridiculously big". Indeed, it looks like the player is gripping a small phone pole on his putter.

"In the past, every time I finished my round there was something about my game, usually my putting, that I always felt there was something missing." choi said.

So he saw the infomercial and, like an anxious Home Shopping Network addict, lunged for the phone. "I thought it made sense, so I picked up the phone and I ordered it," Choi said. "Its really worked very well so far."

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