Asia’s best back for NZ Open before turning focus to academy
Asia’s most successful golfer, KJ Choi, will return to the New Zealand Open in Queenstown next month for a third straight year.
Choi, who has won 29 times over 25 years as a professional, will extend his two decades on the PGA Tour this year under a new exemption category and will split his time with the Champions Tour after he turns 50 in May.
The popular South Korean said while he had a busy year ahead in the sport, it wasn’t a difficult decision to return to the New Zealand Open.
‘‘I have greatly enjoyed my last two visits to the New Zealand Open and I cannot say enough about the presentation of the courses at Millbrook Resort and The Hills,’’ Choi said.
He finished in a share of 17th place in 2019, and had one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour to his credit last year.
‘‘I played quite well last year and I feel if my game is at its best then I can be very competitive at Millbrook Resort, which will be the host course this time.’’
New Zealand Open tournament director Michael Glading is thrilled the South Korean star will return to Queenstown.
‘‘We were initially very excited to attract KJ to the New Zealand Open in 2018. Once he came, he fell in love with the place and the tournament,’’ Glading said.
‘‘He put the work in to his game in 2019 and he was among the top-10 scorers over the weekend last year. There’s no doubt that he still has the game and ability to be a real factor in this tournament.’’
The 101st New Zealand Open, which boasts a total prize purse of $1.45 million, is a co-sanctioned event with the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, and staged at Millbrook Resort and The Hills on February 27 to March 1.
The pro-am event will feature the 156 professional players playing the first two rounds alternately at Millbrook and The Hills, before the second round cut of 60 plus ties play Millbrook over the weekend to decide the 101st champion.
Michael Hendry (2017) was the last Kiwi to win the tournament.
Choi was an assistant captain to Ernie Els at the recent Presidents Cup in Melbourne and plans to establish a junior golf academy in Florida that will focus as much on academics.
‘‘I’ve been training in the offseason with junior golfers for many years through my foundation and I’ve been telling them about the importance of academics,’’ Choi said.
‘‘I think it’s unfortunate that there are some young players who do nothing but play golf during the season.’’