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K. J. Choi

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In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.

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]

K. J. Choi
Choi in June 2011
Personal information
Full nameChoi Kyung-Ju
NicknameTank, Hawkeye[1]
Born (1970-05-19) 19 May 1970 (age 54)
Wando, South Korea
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg)
Sporting nationality South Korea
ResidenceSouthlake, Texas, U.S.
SpouseHyunjung Kim[1]
Children3[1]
Career
CollegeGwangju University
Turned professional1994
Current tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Japan Golf Tour
Asian Tour
Korean Tour
Professional wins33
Highest ranking5 (9 March 2008)[2]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour8
European Tour1
Japan Golf Tour2
Asian Tour6
PGA Tour Champions2
European Senior Tour1
Other14
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament3rd: 2004
PGA ChampionshipT6: 2004
U.S. OpenT15: 2005, 2012
The Open ChampionshipT8: 2007
Achievements and awards
Korean Tour
Rookie of the Year		1995
Korean Tour
Order of Merit winner		1996, 1997
Korean Tour
Player of the Year		1996, 1997, 2002, 2003
Asia Golf Circuit
Order of Merit winner		1999[3]

Professional career

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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

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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

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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.

With golf becoming an official event at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Choi served as the coach for the men's golf team. In his hometown of Wando, Jeollanam-do, a public square named "Choi Kyung-ju Plaza" honors him. A devout Christian, Choi was ordained as an elder at Onnuri Church in December 2023. His wedding to his equally devout Christian wife was officiated by the late Rev. Ha Yong-jo of Onnuri Church.[17]

Professional wins (33)

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PGA Tour wins (8)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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   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 Invitational1 67-70-67-67=271 −17 2 strokes   Noh Seung-yul
6 7 Oct 2012 CJ Invitational1 (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 (17)

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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 Open1 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 Invitational1 67-70-67-67=271 −17 2 strokes   Noh Seung-yul
16 7 Oct 2012 CJ Invitational1 (2) 69-65-68-67=269 −15 2 strokes   Bae Sang-moon,   Jang Dong-kyu
17 19 May 2024 SK Telecom Open (4) 71-64-72-74=281 −3 Playoff   Park Sang-hyun

*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,   Mike Tschetter Choi Sang-ho won with birdie on first extra hole
2 2003 SK Telecom Open   Shin Yong-jin Won with birdie on second extra hole
3 2005 Shinhan Donghae Open   Kim Jong-duck Lost to birdie on first extra hole
4 2024 SK Telecom Open   Park Sang-hyun Won with par on second extra hole

Other wins (2)

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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 (2)

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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   Alex Čejka,   Bernhard Langer
2 28 Jul 2024 The Senior Open Championship 69-69-70-70=278 −10 2 strokes   Richard Green

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

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K.J. hits a drive during a 2005 PGA Championship practice round at Baltusrol Golf Club.
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
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

Summary

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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

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Wins (1)

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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

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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
  Win

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Results in World Golf Championships

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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
  Top 10
  Did not play

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

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Wins (1)

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Year Championship 54 holes Winning score Margin Runner-up
2024 Senior Open Championship 1 shot lead −10 (69-69-70-70=278) 2 strokes   Richard Green

Results timeline

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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
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Team appearances

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Professional

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The Ultimate K.J. Choi Fan Site". 25 May 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Week 10 2008 Ending 9 Mar 2008" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  3. ^ McCormack, Mark H. (2000). The World of Professional Golf 2000. IMG Publishing. p. 197. ISBN 1878843281.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Kim, Sang hun (22 September 2003). 최경주, "유럽대회 자주 출전하겠다". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "KJ Choi lands Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass". BBC Sport. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  10. ^ "K.J. Choi to give $200,000 to relief effort". ESPN. Associated Press. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  11. ^ "K.J. Choi wins at Pebble Beach to net first Champions title". Malaysia Sun. First Level Media. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Huyền thoại châu Á K.J.Choi sẽ có tuyệt phẩm đầu tiên tại Amber Hills Golf". Vietnam Golf Magazine. 10 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex, Results". European Tour. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  14. ^ Jourdan, Cameron (28 July 2024). "K.J. Choi claims first senior major victory at 2024 Senior Open Championship". Golfweek. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ a b "K.J. Choi is a golf god who gives back – CNN Belief Blog". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012.
  17. ^ Song, Kyung Ho (20 November 2024). "'남자 골프 선구자' 최경주, 지난해 장로 임직받아… 다니엘기도회 20일차 간증자로" ["Trailblazer of Men's Golf" Choi Kyung-ju Ordained as Elder Last Year… Speaker on Day 20 of Daniel Prayer Meeting]. Christian Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 21 November 2024.
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