K. J. Choi
K. J. Choi | |
---|---|
Asia Golf Circuit Order of Merit winner | 1999[3] |
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 and 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
In 2003 he won the
Choi won
Choi won the first
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
In February 2016, Choi finished runner-up at the
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]
Team golf career
Choi represented South Korea in the
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.[13] He is a devout Christian[1] and member of the Korean United Methodist Church.[14] He has donated much of his money to charity through the K.J. Choi Foundation.[14]
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 (31)
PGA Tour wins (8)
Legend |
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 | Dudley Hart, Geoff Ogilvy |
2 | 22 Sep 2002 | Tampa Bay Classic
|
63-68-68-68=267 | −17 | 7 strokes | Glen Day |
3 | 2 Oct 2005 | Chrysler Classic of Greensboro
|
64-69-67-66=266 | −22 | 2 strokes | Shigeki Maruyama |
4 | 29 Oct 2006 | Chrysler Championship (2)
|
68-66-70-67=271 | −13 | 4 strokes | Paul Goydos, Brett Wetterich |
5 | 3 Jun 2007 | Memorial Tournament | 69-70-67-65=271 | −17 | 1 stroke | Ryan Moore |
6 | 8 Jul 2007 | AT&T National
|
66-67-70-68=271 | −9 | 3 strokes | Steve Stricker |
7 | 13 Jan 2008 | Sony Open in Hawaii | 64-65-66-71=266 | −14 | 3 strokes | Rory Sabbatini |
8 | 15 May 2011 | The Players Championship | 70-68-67-70=275 | −13 | Playoff | David Toms |
PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2011 | The Players Championship | David Toms | 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 | Miguel Ángel Jiménez |
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 | Jeev Milkha Singh |
2 | 23 May 1999 | Ube Kosan Open | 69-65-66-72=272 | −16 | 3 strokes | Kazuhiko Hosokawa |
*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 | Jeev Milkha Singh | 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 Open 1
|
71-71-67-69=278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Kyi Hla Han |
2 | 28 Jun 2003 | SK Telecom Open1 | 64-69-68=201* | −15 | Playoff | Shin Yong-jin |
3 | 8 May 2005 | SK Telecom Open1 (2) | 67-71-68-69=275 | −13 | 5 strokes | Andrew Buckle, Fred Couples |
4 | 25 Oct 2009 | Iskandar Johor Open | 68-64-64=196* | −20 | 4 strokes | Chapchai Nirat |
5 | 23 Oct 2011 | CJ Invitational 1
|
67-70-67-67=271 | −17 | 2 strokes | Noh Seung-yul |
6 | 7 Oct 2012 | CJ Invitational 1 (2)
|
69-65-68-67=269 | −15 | 2 strokes | Bae Sang-moon, Jang Dong-kyu |
*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 | Shin Yong-jin | Won with birdie on second extra hole |
Korean Tour wins (16)
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 | Park Nam-sin |
2 | 15 Sep 1996 | Elord Korea Open
|
69-73-69-68=279 | −9 | 1 stroke | Kim Jong-duck |
3 | 25 May 1997 | Phantom Open (2) | 66-68-70-71=275 | −13 | 4 strokes | Jung Do-man |
4 | 22 Jun 1997 | Astra Cup KPGA Championship
|
70-66-66-69=271 | −17 | 5 strokes | Park Nam-sin |
5 | 28 Jun 1997 | Daily Sports Pocari Open | 69-70-74=213* | −13 | 1 stroke | Nam Young-woo |
6 | 19 Sep 1999 | Kolon Korea Open 1
|
71-71-67-69=278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Kyi Hla Han |
7 | 16 Oct 1999 | KPGA Cup | 72-66-65-71=274 | −14 | 2 strokes | Park No-seok |
8 | 12 Nov 2000 | Superior Open | 71-65-71-71=278 | −10 | 2 strokes | Kim Tae-hoon, Suk Jong-yul |
9 | 28 Jun 2003 | SK Telecom Open1 | 64-69-68=201* | −15 | Playoff | Shin Yong-jin |
10 | 10 Oct 2004 | SBS Dongyang Fire Cup | 71-68-73-69=281 | −7 | 1 stroke | Lee Boo-young |
11 | 8 May 2005 | SK Telecom Open1 (2) | 67-71-68-69=275 | −13 | 3 strokes | Andrew Buckle, Fred Couples |
12 | 14 Oct 2007 | Shinhan Donghae Open | 70-69-70-66=275 | −13 | 1 stroke | Suk Jong-yul |
13 | 20 Apr 2008 | SK Telecom Open (3) | 71-64-71-66=272 | −16 | 4 strokes | Kang Kyung-nam |
14 | 27 May 2008 | Shinhan Donghae Open (2) | 70-69-70-66=275 | −13 | 3 strokes | Hur Suk-ho |
15 | 23 Oct 2011 | CJ Invitational 1
|
67-70-67-67=271 | −17 | 2 strokes | Noh Seung-yul |
16 | 7 Oct 2012 | CJ Invitational 1 (2)
|
69-65-68-67=269 | −15 | 2 strokes | Bae Sang-moon, Jang Dong-kyu |
*Note: Tournament shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
Korean Tour playoff record (1–1)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2003 | SK Telecom Open | Shin Yong-jin | Won with birdie on second extra hole |
2 | 2005 | Shinhan Donghae Open | Kim Jong-duck | Lost to birdie on first 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 | Lim Jin-han |
2 | 30 Nov 2008 | LG Skins Game
|
US$415,000 | $165,000 | Stephen Ames |
PGA Tour Champions wins (1)
No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runners-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 26 Sep 2021 | PURE Insurance Championship | 67-68-68=203 | −13 | 2 strokes | Alex Čejka, Bernhard Langer |
PGA Tour Champions playoff record (0–1)
No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2021 | Sanford International | Darren Clarke, Steve Flesch | Clarke won with birdie on second extra hole Flesch eliminated by par on first hole |
Results in major championships
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 | David Toms |
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.
Results in senior major championships
Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|
The Tradition | T36 | ||
Senior PGA Championship | T3 | T4 | T26 |
U.S. Senior Open | CUT | 11 | |
Senior Players Championship | T32 | T11 | T3 |
The Senior Open Championship
|
T14 |
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Team appearances
Professional
- 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.
- OWGR. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- 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.
- ^ Nichols, Bill (8 April 2010). "Since historic win, Korean golfer finds balance with family in Southlake, at Dallas driving range". 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