[At Clubhouse] "First Korean to Win Champions Tour" K.J. Choi "With the Power of Positivity"

PGA Tour 8 Career Wins + First Pure Insurance Victory, K.J. Choi Foundation Establishment and Tournament Creation Leading Korean Golf Development

K.J. Choi has this time built a milestone as the first Korean to win on the PGA Champions (Senior) Tour.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyunjun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘Tank’ Choi Kyung-ju (51, SK Telecom) is back.

This time, after setting a new milestone as the first Korean to win on the PGA Champions (Senior) Tour, he immediately returned home and took the lead in advancing the Korean Tour through the Choi Kyung-ju Invitational bearing his name. Having moved to the U.S. in 2000, he is now a 21-year veteran. During that time, he has accumulated a total of 8 PGA Tour wins and has been active on the Champions Tour for players aged 50 and over since last year. He introduced himself by saying, "Winning is always special," and "I have come this far with pride as the only Korean."

▲ Choi Kyung-ju "Pioneering the PGA Tour" = After passing the Qualifying (Q) School in November 1999, he joined the PGA Tour in 2000 and finally reached the champion ranks at the Compaq Classic in May 2002. He gained momentum with a win at the Tampa Bay Classic in September. He secured one win each in 2005 and 2006, and added two more wins in 2007, establishing his presence. He swept prestigious matches such as the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus and the AT&T hosted by Tiger Woods (both from the U.S.), drawing even more spotlight.

He added a victory at the Sony Open in 2008. The highlight was the 2011 Players Championship, known as the ‘fifth major.’ On the final day, after an extended playoff battle with David Toms (U.S.), he finally secured the winning par. It is interesting that Choi’s main weapon at the time was his ‘precise shot.’ Although his maximum drive was 290 yards and his distance ranked outside the top 100, his ‘computer-like iron shots’ and ‘water-tight putting’ stood out. Especially, his ‘masterful bunker shots,’ honed as a child on the white sands of Wando, Jeonnam, were said to have even made Woods envious.

Choi Kyung-ju received a Champions Tour victory celebration cake from his juniors at the Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational and posed for a photo.

▲ ‘The Future of Korean Golf’ Choi Kyung-ju Foundation = It is noteworthy that he established the foundation early in October 2007. Choi said, "I want to present a vision to golf hopefuls dreaming of world domination," and "Even if it takes time, I will create a solid project." The foundation has been expanding its scope every year, including selecting KJ scholarship students, providing lessons, supporting domestic and overseas training camps, and hosting tournaments organized by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).

The establishment of the Choi Kyung-ju Invitational in 2011 was also in the same context. It was for the relatively underdeveloped domestic men’s golf compared to women’s golf. He flew to Korea every year, and when the tournament was canceled in 2015 due to difficulties, he secured Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance as the title sponsor in 2016, creating a ‘major-level stage’ with a total prize money of 750 million won in 2017 and 1 billion won since 2018. This year, players presented Choi with a Champions Tour victory celebration cake and bouquet, making the moment especially memorable.

Choi Kyung-ju has been leading the development of Korean golf by establishing the Choi Kyung-ju Foundation in 2007 and founding the Choi Kyung-ju Invitational in 2011.

▲ ‘Endless Challenge’ Choi Kyung-ju "The Driving Force is Positive Energy" = It is surprising that Choi Kyung-ju took a medical extension from the PGA Tour office in June 2018. In August, he ultimately underwent surgery to remove a thyroid tumor. He explained, "Since chemotherapy was not necessary, my body no longer deteriorated," and "Through consistent physical conditioning, my stamina has actually improved now." He is determined to "play a pioneering role on the Champions Tour following the PGA Tour."

In the 2021 season, Choi entered the top 10 six times in 15 tournaments, and recently has been on the rise with a runner-up finish in a playoff at the Sanford International on the 20th and a win at the Pure Insurance event on the 27th. He said, "Although the Champions Tour feels more relaxed and friendly compared to the PGA Tour, the competition for victory is just as fierce," and "Thinking of the foundation’s hopefuls makes me run even harder." He emphasized ‘the power of positivity’ to juniors. He left a message, "Even if it is difficult right now, it is important to endure and keep striving."