K.J. Choi - Looking to join the elites

April 17, 2002

In his third straight season, K.J.(Kyoung-ju) Choi - the first and only Korean male on the PGA Tour - continues his quest to win a PGA Tour title. And it's only a matter of time.

When asked about it, K.J. replied, "After being on tour for little over two years now, I feel very comfortable playing here in the U.S. and winning a tournament this season or the next doesn't seem out of the question."

K.J.'s steady rise in the ranks is no fluke. Last season, he clinched five Top 10 finishes and finished 66th on the money list with earnings of $800,326.

He also got off to a quick start this year by finishing in a tie for seventh at the Sony Open and finished joint eighth at the Bellsouth Classic the week before the Masters. He is currently 59th on the PGA Tour money list.

The former powerlifter, nicknamed 'Tank' for his build and his compact swing, began golfing at age 15 after his high school teacher recommended it to him.

"I started picking up the game by watching PGA players on TV. I studied how they swing and I would rewind it, play it back again," said Choi, who spent most of his childhood growing up on a small island called Wando. His road to success as a pro has mainly been attributed to hard work and determination, and has often been compared to Vijay Singh for his unyielding daily practice routine of hitting ball after ball until sunset.

Choi, who resides in The Woodlands, Texas with his wife and two children, has participated in three of four Majors so far: The British Open in 1999 where he placed 49th after being invited for winning the order of merit on the Asian PGA tour, and both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in 2001.

It was at the PGA Championship last year where he had turned heads after shooting 66 and 68 in the first two rounds to get within three shots of the leader. However, it wasn't an easy task in the second round. After making three bogeys in four holes, K.J., a devout Christian, sought spiritual strength. "I started praying to God inside and kind of soothed down my emotions, and that's what happened," said Choi. "From then on, it was just, you know, downhill." He finished in the top 30 that weekend.

Of the four Majors, K.J. is still chasing after the elusive Masters. A top 40 finish this year will earn him an invitation to next year's prestigious event.

"I always hope that I will get a chance to play in the Masters some day. Those who are invited are really good players. As an Asian, I want to win the Masters and it is my objective to win it, and I think I can do it some day," said the 31-year-old Choi.

K.J's fans all know he has the game to play among the world's best. To many Koreans in Korea as well as here in the U.S., he is not only a hero and a pioneer to those aspiring to follow him onto the PGA Tour, but also a man who takes great pride in representing his home country of South Korea.

"I'd like to thank all my fans for supporting me, especially here in the U.S. Coming to America and making the difficult transition like speaking English wasn't easy because I didn't know many people when I first arrived here, but my fans made me feel at home," said K.J.

In a society that is becoming increasingly impatient, some wonder why he hasn't won a tournament yet. One fan poignantly stated, "slow and steady wins the race."

K.J. will continue his second leg of the tour at the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic, in Greensboro, N.C. from April 25 - 28, where he finished in a tie for 4th last year.

Coming soon, an interview with K.J. For more info on K.J. Choi, please visit www.kjchoi.net

Reported by Michael Ohr
K.J. Choi Fan Central