K. J. Choi
K. J. Choi | |||||||||
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![]() Choi in June 2011 | |||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Full name | Choi Kyung-Ju | ||||||||
Nickname | Tank, Hawkeye[1] | ||||||||
Born | Wando, South Korea | 19 May 1970||||||||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||
Sporting nationality | ![]() | ||||||||
Residence | Southlake, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
Spouse | Hyunjung Kim[1] | ||||||||
Children | 3[1] | ||||||||
Career | |||||||||
College | Gwangju University | ||||||||
Turned professional | 1994 | ||||||||
Current tour(s) | PGA Tour Champions | ||||||||
Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Japan Golf Tour Asian Tour Korean Tour | ||||||||
Professional wins | 33 | ||||||||
Highest ranking | 5 (9 March 2008)[2] | ||||||||
Number of wins by tour | |||||||||
PGA Tour | 8 | ||||||||
European Tour | 1 | ||||||||
Japan Golf Tour | 2 | ||||||||
Asian Tour | 6 | ||||||||
PGA Tour Champions | 2 | ||||||||
European Senior Tour | 1 | ||||||||
Other | 14 | ||||||||
Best results in major championships | |||||||||
Masters Tournament | 3rd: 2004 | ||||||||
PGA Championship | T6: 2004 | ||||||||
U.S. Open | T15: 2005, 2012 | ||||||||
The Open Championship | T8: 2007 | ||||||||
Achievements and awards | |||||||||
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Choi Kyung-Ju (Korean: 최경주; born 19 May 1970), commonly known as K. J. Choi, is a South Korean professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. Since turning pro in 1994, he has won more than twenty professional golf tournaments worldwide, including eight on the PGA Tour. His most notable victory came at the 2011 Players Championship, and he has spent 40 weeks in the top-10 of the world rankings.[4][5]
Professional career
Choi turned professional in 1994 after fulfilling his military obligation.[6]
After establishing his career on the Korean Tour, where he picked up his first professional win in 1995, and the Japan Golf Tour, where he won twice in 1999, Choi qualified for membership of the U.S.-based PGA Tour by finishing tied 35th at the 1999 qualifying tournament. He was the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card. In his rookie season in 2000 he finished 134th on the money list and had to requalify, but since 2001 he has been a consistent performer on the tour. In 2002 he became the first Korean to win on the PGA Tour at the Compaq Classic of New Orleans, and followed it up with another victory at the Tampa Bay Classic later that year.
In 2003 he won the Linde German Masters on the European Tour, his first and only win to date on the European Tour.[7]
Choi won Jack Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament in 2007. He mentioned on CBS during the AT&T National that he read Jack Nicklaus's "Golf My Way" book early in his golf career, which assisted him in becoming the golfer he is today.
Choi won the first AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. The trophy is a small replica of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC. He made a spectacular sand trap shot on the 17th hole for a birdie to clinch the win over Steve Stricker by 3 shots. Choi was a crowd favorite and threw his golf ball into the crowd after holing his sand shot on the 17th hole.
In August 2007 he reached the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time. In January 2008, Choi won the Sony Open in Hawaii and rose to world number 7.[8] In March 2008, Choi reached fifth place in the rankings.
After his 7th PGA Tour victory at the 2008 Sony Open in Hawaii, Choi donated $320,000 of his earnings to the victims' families of a warehouse fire in Seoul, South Korea, which killed over forty people.
Choi won his fourth title on the Asian Tour in Malaysia in 2009 at the Iskandar Johor Open, which was reduced to 3 rounds due to inclement weather.
In May 2011, Choi won The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in a playoff against David Toms. Choi had a one shot lead going down the 18th hole in regulation time, but Toms made birdie while Choi could only chip and putt for a par taking it to a sudden-death playoff. Both players found the green at the first extra hole, the 17th, and then missed with their attempted birdie efforts. Toms however also missed the return four footer for par leaving Choi with a three-foot par putt to seal victory. This to date is the South Korean's biggest PGA Tour victory.[9] Following his win, Choi donated $200,000 to help victims of the tornadoes that ravaged the southeastern United States in April.[10]
In February 2016, Choi finished runner-up at the Farmers Insurance Open to Brandt Snedeker, during a Monday finish to the weather disrupted event. This was notable because it was the first time in Choi's PGA Tour career that he did not convert a 54-hole lead or co-lead into a win. He was previously 5 for 5 in converted 54 holes leads to victories. The result moved Choi up 197 places in the world rankings from 334th to 137th. Choi continued his good early season from at the Northern Trust Open where he finished in a tie for fifth, despite holding the co-lead during the final round. This moved Choi to just outside the top 100 at 102nd in the rankings.
In May 2020, Choi turned 50 years of age and qualified for the PGA Tour Champions. In September 2021, Choi won his first tournament on that tour, the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.[11]
In November 2022, Choi visited Vietnam to co-design Amber Hills Golf & Resort, Rock Valley Course with golf architect Paul Albanese in Bac Giang province near Hanoi[12]
At the 2024 Senior Open at Carnoustie Golf Links in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland, in July 2024, Choi kept the lead he held after both the second and third round and won the tournament, becoming the first South Korean player to win a Senior Major Championship, men or women. After birdies on the 12th and 13th holes in the last round and an eagle on the 14th hole, Choi reached a four-shot-lead. He finally finished two shots ahead of runner-up Richard Green.[13][14]
Team golf career
Choi represented South Korea in the WGC-World Cup in 2002, 2003, and 2005, and was a member of the International Team in the Presidents Cup in 2003, 2007, and 2011.
Personal life
Choi was born in Wando, South Korea. He currently resides in Southlake, Texas, near fellow South Korean PGA Tour player Yang Yong-eun.[15] He is a devout Christian[1] and member of the Korean United Methodist Church.[16] He has donated much of his money to charity through the K.J. Choi Foundation.[16]
Before picking up golf Choi was a competitive power lifter, being able to squat 350 pounds (159 kg) as a 95-pound (43 kg) 13-year-old, thus aptly nicknamed "Tank" by South Koreans.
Choi played the role of professional golfer T.K. Oh in the movie Seven Days in Utopia.
Professional wins (33)
PGA Tour wins (8)
Legend |
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Players Championships (1) |
Other PGA Tour (7) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 May 2002 | Compaq Classic of New Orleans | 68-65-71-67=271 | −17 | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
2 | 22 Sep 2002 | Tampa Bay Classic | 63-68-68-68=267 | −17 | 7 strokes | ![]() |
3 | 2 Oct 2005 | Chrysler Classic of Greensboro | 64-69-67-66=266 | −22 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
4 | 29 Oct 2006 | Chrysler Championship (2) | 68-66-70-67=271 | −13 | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
5 | 3 Jun 2007 | Memorial Tournament | 69-70-67-65=271 | −17 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
6 | 8 Jul 2007 | AT&T National | 66-67-70-68=271 | −9 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
7 | 13 Jan 2008 | Sony Open in Hawaii | 64-65-66-71=266 | −14 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
8 | 15 May 2011 | The Players Championship | 70-68-67-70=275 | −13 | Playoff | ![]() |
PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2011 | The Players Championship | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
European Tour wins (1)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 Sep 2003 | Linde German Masters | 63-68-64-67=262 | −26 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Japan Golf Tour wins (2)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 25 Apr 1999 | Kirin Open1 | 65-68-71=204* | −9 | Playoff | ![]() |
2 | 23 May 1999 | Ube Kosan Open | 69-65-66-72=272 | −16 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
*Note: The 1999 Kirin Open was shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
1Co-sanctioned by the Asia Golf Circuit
Japan Golf Tour playoff record (1–0)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1999 | Kirin Open | ![]() |
Won with par on first extra hole |
Asian Tour wins (6)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 Sep 1999 | Kolon Korea Open1 | 71-71-67-69=278 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
2 | 28 Jun 2003 | SK Telecom Open1 | 64-69-68=201* | −15 | Playoff | ![]() |
3 | 8 May 2005 | SK Telecom Open1 (2) | 67-71-68-69=275 | −13 | 5 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
4 | 25 Oct 2009 | Iskandar Johor Open | 68-64-64=196* | −20 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
5 | 23 Oct 2011 | CJ Invitational1 | 67-70-67-67=271 | −17 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
6 | 7 Oct 2012 | CJ Invitational1 (2) | 69-65-68-67=269 | −15 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
*Note: Tournament shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
1Co-sanctioned by the Korean Tour
Asian Tour playoff record (1–0)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2003 | SK Telecom Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on second extra hole |
Korean Tour wins (17)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 May 1995 | Phantom Open | 67-71-69-73=280 | −8 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
2 | 15 Sep 1996 | Elord Korea Open | 69-73-69-68=279 | −9 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
3 | 25 May 1997 | Phantom Open (2) | 66-68-70-71=275 | −13 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
4 | 22 Jun 1997 | Astra Cup KPGA Championship | 70-66-66-69=271 | −17 | 5 strokes | ![]() |
5 | 28 Jun 1997 | Daily Sports Pocari Open | 69-70-74=213* | −13 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
6 | 19 Sep 1999 | Kolon Korea Open1 | 71-71-67-69=278 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
7 | 16 Oct 1999 | KPGA Cup | 72-66-65-71=274 | −14 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
8 | 12 Nov 2000 | Superior Open | 71-65-71-71=278 | −10 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
9 | 28 Jun 2003 | SK Telecom Open1 | 64-69-68=201* | −15 | Playoff | ![]() |
10 | 10 Oct 2004 | SBS Dongyang Fire Cup | 71-68-73-69=281 | −7 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
11 | 8 May 2005 | SK Telecom Open1 (2) | 67-71-68-69=275 | −13 | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
12 | 14 Oct 2007 | Shinhan Donghae Open | 70-69-70-66=275 | −13 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
13 | 20 Apr 2008 | SK Telecom Open (3) | 71-64-71-66=272 | −16 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
14 | 27 May 2008 | Shinhan Donghae Open (2) | 70-69-70-66=275 | −13 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
15 | 23 Oct 2011 | CJ Invitational1 | 67-70-67-67=271 | −17 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
16 | 7 Oct 2012 | CJ Invitational1 (2) | 69-65-68-67=269 | −15 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
17 | 19 May 2024 | SK Telecom Open (4) | 71-64-72-74=281 | −3 | Playoff | ![]() |
*Note: Tournament shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
Korean Tour playoff record (2–2)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1995 | Shinhan Donghae Open | ![]() ![]() |
Choi Sang-ho won with birdie on first extra hole |
2 | 2003 | SK Telecom Open | ![]() |
Won with birdie on second extra hole |
3 | 2005 | Shinhan Donghae Open | ![]() |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
4 | 2024 | SK Telecom Open | ![]() |
Won with par on second extra hole |
Other wins (2)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 23 Mar 1996 | Parmax Invitational | 72-70-71=213 | −3 | 6 strokes | ![]() |
2 | 30 Nov 2008 | LG Skins Game | US$415,000 | $165,000 | ![]() |
PGA Tour Champions wins (2)
Legend |
---|
Senior major championships (1) |
Other PGA Tour Champions (1) |
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 26 Sep 2021 | PURE Insurance Championship | 67-68-68=203 | −13 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
2 | 28 Jul 2024 | The Senior Open Championship | 69-69-70-70=278 | −10 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
PGA Tour Champions playoff record (0–1)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2021 | Sanford International | ![]() ![]() |
Clarke won with birdie on second extra hole Flesch eliminated by par on first hole |
Results in major championships
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Kj-swing.jpg)
Tournament | 1998 | 1999 |
---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | ||
U.S. Open | ||
The Open Championship | CUT | T49 |
PGA Championship |
Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T15 | 3 | T33 | CUT | T27 | 41 | CUT | |||
U.S. Open | CUT | T30 | CUT | T31 | T15 | CUT | CUT | CUT | T47 | |
The Open Championship | CUT | T22 | T16 | T41 | CUT | T8 | T16 | CUT | ||
PGA Championship | T29 | CUT | T69 | T6 | T40 | T7 | T12 | CUT | T24 |
Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | T4 | T8 | CUT | T46 | T34 | ||
U.S. Open | T47 | CUT | T15 | T32 | |||
The Open Championship | CUT | T44 | T39 | T44 | CUT | ||
PGA Championship | T39 | T39 | T54 | T47 | CUT | T22 |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Summary
Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 9 |
U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 7 |
The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 9 |
PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 12 |
Totals | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 55 | 37 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 10 (2003 Open Championship – 2005 PGA)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (six times)
The Players Championship
Wins (1)
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | The Players Championship | 1 shot deficit | −13 (70-68-67-70=275) | Playoff | ![]() |
Results timeline
Tournament | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | T28 | CUT | T42 | CUT | T16 | T23 | CUT | T71 |
Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Players Championship | T34 | 1 | CUT | T48 | T13 | T42 | T43 | CUT |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Results in World Golf Championships
Tournament | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Match Play | R32 | R64 | R64 | R64 | R32 | QF | R64 | R32 | R64 | R64 | ||
Championship | T6 | T57 | T43 | T32 | T19 | T12 | T59 | T39 | T35 | |||
Invitational | T19 | T53 | T58 | T51 | T22 | T11 | T16 | T45 | T46 | T59 | T8 | |
Champions | T30 | T16 |
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.
Senior major championships
Wins (1)
Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Senior Open Championship | 1 shot lead | −10 (69-69-70-70=278) | 2 strokes | ![]() |
Results timeline
Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Tradition | T36 | T6 | ||
Senior PGA Championship | T3 | T4 | T26 | T32 |
U.S. Senior Open | CUT | 11 | T22 | |
Senior Players Championship | T32 | T11 | T3 | 4 |
The Senior Open Championship | T14 | 1 |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances
Professional
- World Cup (representing South Korea): 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2013
- Presidents Cup (International Team): 2003 (tie), 2007, 2011
See also
- 1999 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
- 2000 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
- List of golfers with most Asian Tour wins
References
- ^ a b c d "The Ultimate K.J. Choi Fan Site". 25 May 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
- ^ "Week 10 2008 Ending 9 Mar 2008" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ McCormack, Mark H. (2000). The World of Professional Golf 2000. IMG Publishing. p. 197. ISBN 1878843281.
- ^ "69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 in World Ranking". Official World Golf Ranking. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ^ "Players who have reached the Top Ten in the Official World Golf Ranking since 1986". European Tour Official Guide 09 (38th ed.). PGA European Tour. 2009. p. 558.
- ^ "Choi gets company on PGA Tour as Korea emerges as world golf power". Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ Kim, Sang hun (22 September 2003). 최경주, "유럽대회 자주 출전하겠다". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- ^ "K.J. Choi Wins Wire-to-Wire at the Sony Open in Hawaii and Climbs to World Number 7". Official World Golf Ranking. 14 January 2008. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ^ "KJ Choi lands Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass". BBC Sport. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^ "K.J. Choi to give $200,000 to relief effort". ESPN. Associated Press. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ^ "K.J. Choi wins at Pebble Beach to net first Champions title". Malaysia Sun. First Level Media. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Huyền thoại châu Á K.J.Choi sẽ có tuyệt phẩm đầu tiên tại Amber Hills Golf". Vietnam Golf Magazine. 10 December 2022.
- ^ "Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex, Results". European Tour. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Jourdan, Cameron (28 July 2024). "K.J. Choi claims first senior major victory at 2024 Senior Open Championship". Golfweek. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Nichols, Bill (8 April 2010). "Since historic win, Korean golfer finds balance with family in Southlake, at Dallas driving range". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ a b "K.J. Choi is a golf god who gives back – CNN Belief Blog". CNN.
External links
- Kyoung-Ju Choi at the Japan Golf Tour official site
- KJ Choi at the Korean Tour official site (in Korean)
- K J Choi at the European Tour official site
- K.J. Choi at the Asian Tour official site
- K.J. Choi at the PGA Tour official site
- K.J. Choi at the Official World Golf Ranking official site