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| Full
Name |
Kyoung-Ju
Choi |
| Nicknames |
'Tank',
'Hawkeye' |
| Age |
34
(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 |
The
Woodlands (Houston), Texas |
| |
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| Turned
Pro |
1994
(age 24) |
Tournament
Wins |
PGA
Tour Victories - 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 - 2003 Linde German Masters [European
Tour], 2003 S.K. Telecom [Korea]. 1999 Ube Kosan
Open [Japan], 1999 Kirin Open [Japan], 1999 Kolon
Korean Open, 1997 Fantom Open; 1997 Astra Cup PGA
Championship; 1997 Pocari Korea Times Open ; 1996
Korean 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." |
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| 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."
|
| |
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| 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 |
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| Sponsor |
Nike
Golf -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. |
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| 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 |
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K.J.
Choi
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