Player Profile - KJ Choi

This week’s player profile highlights the career of 2011 Players Champion KJ Choi.

Kyoung-Ju Choi was born in 1970 in Wando, South Korea. As a child and teenager Choi was an avid athlete, his favourite sport in high school surprisingly was power lifting. While it is reported that he could squat 350 pounds at the age of 13, he gave up this strenuous sport when at the age of 16 one of his teachers suggested he try his hand at golf.

Choi showed great promise as a young golfer, with his formidable strength and commitment to practice allowing him to make quick progress in learning the ins and outs of the game. He broke par at the age of 21 and in 1994, at the age of 24, he turned pro.

During his professional career Choi has lifted the trophy at a large number of prominent golfing events. In 1999 he joined the US PGA Tour, carding his first victory in 2002 at the Compaq Classic of New Orleans. Later the same year Choi won the Tampa Bay Classic in Florida. In 2005 he was victorious again at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, winning the Chrysler Championship the following year. In 2007 Choi won two events in the United States, the Memorial Tournament and the AT&T Classic. In 2008 he was victorious at the Sony Open of Hawaii.

Choi has also played extensively in Europe, winning the 2003 Linde German Masters. Since then he has focussed his attention mostly on the US and Asian tours. On Sunday, KJ Choi became the first ever Asian player to win the Player’s Championship. He beat the American David Toms in a playoff to clinch a historic victory. Off the course, Choi enjoys a variety of sports including soccer, and has settled in Dallas, Texas. He is married with three children.

Golfweather Editorial