K.j. Choi

Player Notes

Born on the island, Wando, just off the coast of Korea, an island which didn't have a golf course when Choi was growing up. . . A son of a rice farmer, he never saw a golf club until he was 16 years old when on the advice of a high school athletics coach he took up the game at a local driving range. At that time his main interest was weightlifting but the more he got involved in golf the more he realized how much it effected his golf swing so he gave up that sport. At 5-foot-8, Choi felt he could be a bit small for golf. But, when Ian Woosnam starting winning on the European Tour and the 1991 Masters, Choi realized he had the same shape as Woosnam and knew he could compete in Golf. . . Choi turned professional in 1994 and played in Korea, finishing first on that tour's Order of Merit in 1997. That got him a berth on the South Korean World Cup team that played at Kiawah Island and on his first trip to America Choi realized how much he loved not only this country but also the PGA Tour. The next couple of years Choi dabbled on the Korean, Japanese, European and Asian tours improving and winning multiple titles. . .With victories in the 1996 & '99 Korean Opens and two events in Japan in 1998, Choi had enough confidence and money to try the PGA Tour. In 1999, he finished T35th in Q-School and earned a tour card.

Career Victories

PGA Tour
2 - Compaq Classic of New Orleans, Tampa Bay Classic

Other
1996 Korean Open, 1999 Kirien Open, Ube Kosan Open (Japanese Tour), Korean Open

Career Summary

2000 Notes
had to return to the PGA Tour qualifying tournament were he finished T31st to regain his tour card for 2001

2000 PGA Tour Summary
Tournaments entered: 30 / Rounds Played: 89 / Cuts made: 16 / Top-10 finishes: 1; Best finish: T8th at the Air Canada Championship; Earnings: $305,745 Rank (134th)

2000 Stats
Scoring - 71.54 / (127th); Driving Distance - 274.9 / (73rd); Driving Accuracy - 69.4% / (88th); GIR - 67.0% / (73rd); Putting - 1.795 / (145th); Birdie Average - 3.40 per rd / (108th) / Total Birdies - 303; Sand Saves - 53.9% / (102nd); Scrambling - 61.0% / (63rd); All-Around Rank - 900 / (127th).

2001 Notes
started the season with 14 consecutive rounds at par or better.

2001 PGA Tour Summary
Tournaments entered: 29 / Rounds Played: 92 / Cuts made: 19 / Top-10 finishes: 5; Best finish: T-4th at the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic; Earnings: $800,326 Rank (65th)

2001 Stats
Scoring - 70.62 / (46th); Driving Distance - 283.1 / (59th); Driving Accuracy - 63.8% / (173rd); GIR - 65.9% / (100); Putting - 1.765 / (74th); Birdie Average - 3.67 per rd / (81st) / Total Birdies - 338; Sand Saves - 50.7% / (116th); Scrambling - 61.8% / (58th); All-Around Rank - 752 / (88th)

2002 Notes
In his win at Tampa Bay had on fever on the final day, had an appendectomy the Monday afterwards. Had seven top-10 finishes and 35 of his 89 rounds were in the 60s.

2002 PGA Tour Summary
Tournaments entered: 27 / Rounds Played: 89 / Cuts made: 19 / Top-10 finishes: 7 / Best finish: Winner at the COMPAQ Classic of New Orleans & Tampa Bay Classic / Earnings: $2,204,907 Rank (17th)

2002 Stats
Scoring - 70.31 / (24th); Driving Distance - 283.1 / (62nd); Driving Accuracy - 65.2% / (146th); GIR - 65.5% / (103rd); Putting - 1.738 / (20th); Birdie Average - 3.93 per rd / (27th) / Total Birdies - 350; Sand Saves - 56.0% / (29th); All-Around Rank - 499 / (30th)