|
| Full
Name |
Kyoung-Ju
Choi (Check out his Full Bio at Wikipedia) |
| Nicknames |
'The Tank',
'Hawkeye' |
| Age |
39
(May 19, 1970) |
| Height
|
5'
8" |
| Weight |
185 |
| Born
In |
Wando,
Korea |
| Family |
Wife,
Hyunjung Kim; son, David (05-09-97); daughter, Amanda
(03-04-02); son, Daniel (12-26-03) |
| Residence |
Dallas,
Texas |
| Charity Foundation |
Devout Christians, K.J. Choi and his wife have graciously donated to numerous charitable organizations over the years and started their own K.J. Choi Foundation (Korean language) in South Korea to help the needy. |
| |
 |
| Turned
Pro |
1994
(age 24) |
Tournament
Wins |
PGA
Tour Victories - 2011 Players Championship, 2008 Sony Open, 2007 AT&T National,
2007 Memorial Tournament, 2006 Chrysler Championship,
2005 Chrysler-Greensboro, 2002 Compaq Classic of
New Orleans, 2002 Tampa Bay Classic.
International
Victories - 2009 Iskandar Johor Open, 2003/2005 S.K. Telecom, 1996 Korean Open, 1999 Kolon
Korean Open [Asian Tour], 2003 Linde German Masters [European
Tour], 1999 Ube Kosan Open [Japan], 1999 Kirin Open [Japan], 1997 Fantom Open; 1997 Astra Cup PGA
Championship, 1997 Pocari Korea Times Open ; 1995 Fantom Open |
| Distinction |
First
Korean-born player to earn PGA Tour Card; First
Korean to win on the PGA Tour. First Asian to break
into the World Top 10 player ranking. A two-time
winner in 1999 in Japan, he earned the last fully
exempt spot in December's Q-School with a four-under
68 in the final round. |
| Before
Golf |
Teen
powerlifter. Could squat 350 pounds as a 95-pound
13-year old. No longer lifts heavy weights. |
| Why
Golf? |
Interest
in golf grew after one of his high school teachers
recommended he try the sport. Studied under David
Pelz. |
Age
When Started Golf
|
16 |
Age
When
Broke Par |
21 |
| Current
Instructor |
Steve
Bann |
| Swing
Model |
Ian
Woosnam |
| Playing
Style |
274.9-yard
average, ranks 73rd; normally straight, ranks 88th
in accuracy. Steady iron player. His former caddie,
Casey Kerr, called Choi "the Korean Fred Funk."
Short game needs to improve. |
| Swing
Flaw |
"I
bend too much at the top, a bad habit from doing
so many squats as a weightlifter." |
| |
|
| Difference
between Japanese and U.S. Tours |
Speed
of Greens |
| Most
Difficult Adjustment on Tour |
"The
United States is very large, and touring the entire
country is not an easy job. Asians need strong character
to endure." |
| On
Media Coverage |
(More
than a dozen Korean reporters routinely cover the
tournaments in which he plays.) "It's better than
being unknown. I know all eyes are on me. I feel
some burden, but it is starting to settle down."
|
| |
|
| Original
Goal |
To
be in the Top 100, Top 30 in three years and eventually
to win - accomplished both in 2002 |
| New
Goal |
To
win a major |
| |
|
| Sponsor |
Prior to the 2010 PGA Tour, K.J. ended his contract with Nike and has decided to go with Ping driver and irons. He also switched to the Titleist Pro V1.
K.J. joined the Nike family earlier
this year in 2005, and will be be sporting the Nike
swoosh logo from head-to-toe and playing with Nike
equipment (See Equipment).
Read Nike
article. |
| |
|
| Favorite
Time to Play |
"Early
morning, when the fairway is covered with dew, shining
like pearls." |
| Favorite
American Food |
T-bone
steak |
| Favorite
American Movie |
First
Blood |
| Favorite
Sports |
Baseball,
Soccer |
On
Meeting
Se-ri Pak |
"We
were both taking physical tests at the Korean Physical
Science Research Institute in 1997. We didn't talk
much, but Se-ri left a strong impression. I could
feel that she wasn't an ordinary golfer." |
| Friends
Among Players |
Chris
Dimarco, Craig Perks, Fred Couples, Steve Elkington,
Justin Leonard, Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, Matt
Gogel, and Jerry Smith |
