Under the microscope

February 12, 2002

Winning the gold medal at the Olympics instills national pride as does winning the Ryder Cup trophy in golf.

But what many Americans may not be aware of is the enormous pressure among foreign players to win a PGA tournament for their home country due to national pride, players like K.J. Choi of South Korea, Mike Weir of Canada, and Shigeki Maruyama of Japan. Remember when Mike Weir won the Air Canada Championship in 1999, he became a national hero.

On the flipside, just imagine the shock in disbelief among Americans alone when Retief Goosen missed that short putt during the 2001 U.S. Open. The shock must have felt more like an earthquake in his home country of South Africa. Luckily he redeemed himself during the playoff.

Despite the pressures, K.J. Choi feels comfortable being in the spotlight in Korea. "There are several Korean reporters who cover me every tournament. It felt uncomfortable in the beginning but I've gotten used to it", said Choi.

He believes that his hard work will pay off in the near future. "I've practiced hard to get to where I am now but I know I still have a lot more to practice before I can win a tournament outright."

Behind the ropes, some frustrated Korean fans may think he let a recent tournament slip away, but K.J. knows very well that he has walked away with more experience and a greater desire to practice harder to achieve his goal of winning his first PGA tournament...but in due time.

So the question is, 'can he do it?' His fans know the odds are in his favor.

Reported by Michael I. Ohr
K.J. Fan Central