KJ Choi
Name:
Kyoung-Ju "KJ" ChoiAlso known as:
TankCountry:
South KoreaBorn:
May 19, 1970 in Wando, South Jeolla Province, South Korea.Original/Home Club:
Gwangju UniversityOccupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1993Presidents Cup player (2003, '07, '11). Multiple wins on the US PGA Tr, Asian Tr, European Tour and Japan Tr.
Prior to taking up golf, KJ Choi's sporting career started in the very different world of weight-lifting. The physique he developed explains his nickname, "Tank." After switching to golf, he developed his skills sufficiently to win the Korea Open in 1996 aged 26, and join the Asian Tour. Choi also became a two-time winner on the Japan Tour before earning his PGA Tour card at Q-school in 1999. In terms of PGA Tour victories, KJ Choi is now Asia's most successful golfer.
Asia
CJ Group
Played as the CJ Invitational hosted by KJ Choi (Oct 4-7; Asian/Korean Trs event). Second-placed Dong-kyu Jang (S Kor) and Sang-moon Bae (S Kor) finished 2 shots behind defending champion Kyoung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor). [Haesley Nine Bridges, Yeoju, nr Seoul, S. Korea].
Asia
CJ Group
Played as the inaugural CJ Invitational hosted by KJ Choi (Oct 20-23; Asian/Korean Trs event). Second-placed Seung-yul Noh (S Kor) finished 2 shots behind tournament host Kyoung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor). [Haesley Nine Bridges, Yeoju, nr Seoul, S. Korea].
America
x
Played as The Players Championship (May 12-15). Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor) beat David Toms (USA) with a par at the first playoff hole. [Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL].
Asia
Iskandar
Played as the Iskandar Johor Open (Oct 22-25; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Chapchai Nirat (Thai) finished 4 shots behind Kyung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor). Reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Johor G&CC, Johor, Malaysia; at the time known as Royal Johor CC].
America
LG
Played as the LG Skins Game (Nov 29-30). Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor) won with a total of 6 skins worth $415,000. Second was defending champion Stephen Ames (T&T/Can) 6 skins worth $250,000. Third: Phil Mickelson (USA) 4 skins worth $195,000. Fourth: Rocco Mediate (USA) 2 skins worth $140,000. [Celebrity course, Indian Wells Resort, Coachella Valley, California].
America
Sony
Played as the Sony Open in Hawaii (Jan 10-13). Second-placed Rory Sabbatini (RSA) finished 3 shots behind Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor). [Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii].
Asia
Shinhan Financial
Played as the Shinhan Donghae Open (Oct 9-12; Korean Tr event). Second-placed Suk-ho Hur (S Kor) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Kyoung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor). [Lakeside CC, nr Yongin, Gyeonggi, S Korea].
Asia
SK Telecom
Played as the SK Telecom Open (April 17-20; Korean Tr event). Second-placed Kyung-nam Kang (S Kor) finished 4 shots behind Kyoung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor). [Ocean course, Sky 72 GC, Incheon, S Korea].
Asia
Shinhan Financial
Played as the Shinhan Donghae Open (Oct 11-14; Korean Tr event). Second-placed Jong-yul Suk (S Kor) finished 1 shot behind Kyoung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor). [Lakeside CC, nr Yongin, Gyeonggi, S Korea].
America
AT&T
Played as the inaugural AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods (Jul 5-8). Second-placed Steve Stricker (USA) finished 3 shots behind Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor), who recorded his second PGA Tour win in 2007. [Blue course, Congressional CC, Bethesda, MD].
America
Morgan Stanley
Played as The Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley (May 31-Jun 3). Second-placed Ryan Moore (USA) finished 1 shot behind Kyoung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor), who shot a final round 65 to clinch the title. [Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, nr Columbus, OH].
Choi (S Kor) won his second Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year Award.
America
Chrysler
Played as the Chrysler Championship (Oct 26-29). Second-placed Brett Wetterich (USA) and Paul Goydos (USA) finished 4 shots behind Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor), who won this event for the second time. [Copperhead course, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, nr Tampa, FL].
Asia
SK Telecom
Played as the SK Telecom Open (May 5-8; Asian/Korean Trs event). Second-placed Fred Couples (USA) and Andrew Buckle (Aus) finished 5 shots behind Kyoung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor). [Ildong Lakes GC, Kyonggi-do, S Korea].
America
Chrysler
Played as the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro (Sept 29-Oct 2). Second-placed Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor). [Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, NC].
Asia
SK Telecom
Played as the SK Telecom Open (June 26-29; Asian/Korean Trs event). Kyoung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor) beat Yong-jin Shin (S Kor) with a 10-foot birdie putt at the second playoff hole. Reduced to 54 holes due to rain. [BA Vista CC, Daedeoksan Mountain, nr Seoul, S Korea; at the time known as Baekahmvista CC].
Europe
Linde
Played as the Linde German Masters (Sept 18-21). Second-placed Miguel Ángel Jiménez (Esp) finished 2 shots behind first-time European Tour winner Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor). [GC Gut Lärchenhof, Pulheim, nr Cologne, Germany].
America
Compaq
Played as the Compaq Classic of New Orleans (May 2-5). Second-placed Dudley Hart (USA) and Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) finished 4 shots behind 31-year-old Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor), who recorded his first PGA Tour win. [English Turn G&CC, New Orleans, LA].
America
Buick
Played as the Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick (Sept 19-22). Second-placed Glen Day (USA) finished 7 shots behind Kyung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor), who recorded his second PGA Tour win. [Copperhead course, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor, nr Tampa, FL].
Choi (S Kor) won the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year Award.
Japan
x
Played as the Ube Kosan Open (May 20-23). Second-placed Kazuhiko Hosokawa (Jpn) finished 3 shots behind Kyung-ju Choi (S Kor; known as "K.J." Choi), who recorded his second Japan Tour win. [Mannennike East course, Ube 72 CC, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan].
Asia
Kolon
Played as the Kolon Korea Open (Sept 16-19; Asian/Korean Trs event). Second-placed Kyi Hla Han (Taiw) finished 1 shot behind Kyoung-Ju "KJ" Choi (S Kor). [Hanyang CC, Goyang, nr Seoul, S Korea].
Asia
Astra
Played as the Astra Cup KPGA Championship (June 19-22; Korean Tr event). Second-placed Nam-sin Park (S Kor) finished 5 shots behind Kyoung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor). [New Seoul CC, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, S Kor].
Asia
ELORD
Played as the ELORD Korea Open (Sept 12-15; Korean Tr event). Second-placed Jong-duk Kim (S Kor) finished 1 shot behind Kyoung-ju "K.J." Choi (S Kor), who recorded his first significant professional win. [Hanyang CC, Goyang, nr Seoul, S Korea].
Tournaments:
Solheim Cup: can Europe defend the most prestigious team trophy in women’s professional golf, when the 17th Solheim Cup is played out at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio (Sept 4-6).
Italian Open: Nicolai Højgaard recorded his first European Tour win (Sept 5), just a week after his twin brother Rasmus landed the European Masters title (Aug 29); the first brothers to win back-to-back on the European Tour.
Who's Who:
Patrick Cantlay: moved into the world top 5, after winning the final two FedEx Cup playoff events and scooping the $15 million first prize.
Trish Johnson: kept the Senior LPGA Championship trophy in European hands, with her second win in this event in its four-year history.
The San Roque Club: "... how best to revitalise a course that had previously been fit to play regular host to the European Tour’s qualifying school finals..." by Toby Ingleton.
New 27-hole golf complex to be built in southern Belgium
A new golf complex in southern Belgium, close to the border with Luxembourg, will start construction in June 2021.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club "makes its tournament debut with the hosting of the Italian Open on the European Tour" by Richard Humphreys
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
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