USA TODAY International Edition
New Tour event buoys Korea
Inspiration to youths, Choi plays in CJ Cup in native South Korea
South Korean K.J. Choi has long been a beacon of hope for aspiring golfers in his homeland who dreamed of playing on golf’s best stages around the world. He’s still shining a light. Choi is a headliner in this week’s The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, the first official regularseason PGA Tour event to be played in his country. The tournament, played at the Club at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island, is the middle of the Tour’s threeevent swing through Asia, with last week’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia and next week’s World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
The only other PGA Toursanctioned event held in South Korea was the 2015 Presidents Cup at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon. While the USA won in a thriller that came down to the last hole of the last match, the event spiked interest in the sport in South Korea.
Choi, 47, has been spiking interest since he became the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card in 2000. Among his eight Tour titles was the 2011 Players Championship, his last victory on Tour.
Choi is one of 78 players in the field, one that includes reigning PGA champion and PGA Tour player of the year Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Paul Casey and Patrick Reed. Choi is also one of 16 Koreans in the event, but he hopes his reach extends to thousands more.
“I can’t even describe in words what I feel right now. Being proud doesn’t really capture the overwhelming emotion that I’m feeling,” Choi said. “I’ve had other Korean players come up to me and say that they are getting a lot of boost in their game and that they are given the wings to fly.
“I’m extremely pleased that this event will go on for some time, and I believe that this will serve a bridge for many young players to achieve their dreams. I believe that many will be setting higher goals. They will also get an idea of what to prepare to achieve their dreams and get a feel for their way forward in terms of their careers.”
Two have achieved their dreams: Si Woo Kim and Sangmoon Bae. They flanked Choi in a pre-tournament news conference and spoke to the influence Choi had on them and the influence they now can have on others.
“When I started (playing) golf, obviously we watched the PGA Tour and looked up to K.J.,” said Kim, 22, a two-time winner on the Tour, including last year’s Players Championship when he became the second Korean to win the PGA Tour’s showcase event.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to be able to play side by side with K.J. and get advice. For the past three years I’ve been playing with him on Tour, and that has really been a dream come true for me. It’s a great honor for me to play with K.J., and I have the utmost respect for him. He has shown me a lot of support and helped me adjust to the PGA Tour.”
Bae, 31, also received support from Choi when he joined the Tour in 2012. His last of two victories on Tour came in the 2014 Frys.com Open. Bae lost the last match of the 2015 Presidents Cup and then went off to serve his mandatory two-year service in the military. He is making his third start since returning to professional golf.
“Watching (Choi) play and succeed on such a big stage, it really inspired me and other young golfers,” Bae said. “He serves as an exceptional role model, and since I am not a young player anymore, I wish to follow K.J.’s footsteps in helping the new generation golfers in Korea.
“I think that this event will help in that many players will be given the chance to gauge what they need to do to join the Tour. This event will push Korean golf one step ahead. I am quite optimistic that Asian players, including Korean players, will keep knocking on the PGA Tour’s door.”