Gurgaon, Mar 2: Korea's Choi Kyung-Ju has been declared the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year for the second time in six years.

Winner of the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year award in 2002, Choi edged last year's Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Liang Wen-Chong of China and Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, who won twice in Asia in 2007. Choi, better known as KJ, triumphed twice on the US PGA Tour last season and broke into the world's top 10, achievements which earned him the top honour.

He was presented the award at a Gala Evening here last veninmg.

Two other main awards were presented which saw Korea's Lee Sung receiving the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star Award and Argentine Andres Romero winning the Johnnie Walker Young Player of the Year title.

Lee Sung, who was born deaf, made it a double celebration for Korea when he picked up the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star award after enjoying his winning breakthrough on the Asian Tour by winning the Bangkok Airways Open last year.

Lee, received his award from world number five Adam Scott.

Romero beat Germany's Martin Kaymer, American Tadd Fujikawa and Ireland's Rory McIlroy for the Young Player of the Year Award.

The swashbuckling Argentine contended at The Open Championship in Carnoustie in July before going on to win his maiden title in Germany the following week.

During that glorious run, he rose from 114th to 29th position in the world ranking.

Past winners of the Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the Year include Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit in 1995, Kyi Hla Han, the Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour, in 1998, Korea's KJ Choi (2002) and India's Jeev Milkha Singh in 2006.

UNI