Choi lifts lid on course of his life
IF not for an observant coach, a youthful KJ Choi may have spent his sporting life lifting weights.
Instead, 30 years on, he has become Asia’s most successful golfer ever.
The 47-year-old Choi will grace the fairways of this country, confirming his start in the 99th New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort and The Hills on March 1-4, 2018.
But how different his life could have been. As a teenager Choi, who grew up in a farming family on the island of Wando off the southern coast of South Korea, had become proficient as a powerlifter at his local high school.
One day the coach split the group in two, instructing the line that included Choi to play a sport called golf instead. Choi, who has been able to squat 160kg at age 13 – which earning him the nickname Tank – thought he had outsmarted his coach by quietly slipping back to the group that would continue in powerlifting.
But he was spotted and informed that he would now play golf, given a single golf club and a book by Jack Nicklaus called Golf My Way. Three decades later Choi could write a similar book.
With unwavering discipline and determination, Choi would take a two-hour bus ride at 5am each morning to the golf course where he would practise until dark and then return home.
Even his community tried to convince him he was wasting his time. After six years of steadfast resilience, and after a further two years of military service, Choi turned to the paid ranks.
In those early golfing times he travelled to New Zealand with a group as part of a winter training camp, something he remembers vividly.
‘‘What I remember most was the beautiful trees on the golf course. I can’t believe it has already been 21 years since I was there and I’m very excited to return,’’ said Choi. ‘‘It will actually be my first visit playing as a professional golfer.’’
His first victory came two years after joining the paid ranks at the Korean Open in 1996, which led to the Japan Golf Tour, where he won twice in 1999, in turn opening the door to an automatic spot on the PGA Tour. Choi struggled in his rookie season and had to requalify in 2001 but, buoyed by that experience, he has been a regular ever since.
His first victory in the US came the next year, when he became the first Korean to win on the PGA Tour, and he followed with a second win in Florida by a massive seven shots.
In 2003 he also won in Europe and continued his rise with a number of top-10 finishes highlighted by wins in the Memorial and AT&T National in one month, elevating him to the top five in the world.
Choi fought back from a back injury that thwarted his 2009 season with strong performances in 2010 including fourth at the Masters, that led to his victory at the Players Championship in 2011 when he beat David Toms in a playoff.
He remains in the top 25 on the PGA’s all-time money list, and has amassed 20 wins, eight of them on the PGA Tour, and on the way, earning around $50 million.
‘‘This is my 19th season on the PGA Tour and my 25th playing professional golf, and under God’s grace I’ve been able to play this long,’’ he said.
‘‘The motivation for me comes from the fans. I would not have achieved what I have been able to do without the support of the fans. That said I’ve always tried to repay them by playing my best on the golf course and I intend to keep playing.’’ Getty Images
Over the past three years Choi has played less, and his world ranking has dropped as a result, but he is still motivated to play the game at the highest level.
‘‘I am no longer the young gun out there but I play every tournament with optimism, believing in myself that I can still do great things. I’m still hungry to achieve my personal goals. It’s not easy but I really want to send a message out there that it begins with diligence and preparation.’’
Choi says he believes he can win again on the PGA Tour, and will also look to the Champions Tour in three years
Away from the golf course he enjoys watching movies, examining the skills of the actors, their personality and passion.
‘‘In my opinion the skill set required to become a professional actor is very much similar to professional golf.’’
He also spends much time giving to those in need, with his K J Choi Foundation surpassing the $US1 million mark in donations.
Choi is coming to New Zealand with firm focus.
‘‘I’ve already begun my preparation for New Zealand and everything is going well. I am excited to return to New Zealand and I am sure many avid golf fans and Koreas in the area will come out to support.
‘‘It would be nice to play well and to be in a position to win.’’ was his form: he looked strong and fit with his swing and his posture all through the week.
Woods has not said where he will play first in 2018.
The 14-times major champion worked with swing coach Butch Harmon to begin his professional career, then switched to Hank Haney in 2004 and jumped to Sean Foley in 2010, whom he worked with for four years.
Unlike the previous three coaches employed by Woods, biomechanics expert Como was not as steady a presence in public even when Woods played an 11-event schedule in 2015.
Notah Begay, who has known Woods since they played together at Stanford, introduced him to Como in the summer of 2014.
Woods hired him as a consultant late that year as he talked about a ‘‘new old swing’’ he would try to employ.
Como said in a text message that Woods’ ‘‘electrifying play’’ in the Bahamas was the byproduct of ‘‘a lot of hard work over the last few years while fighting through injury and pain,’’ and he felt there was plenty of enthusiasm for next year.
‘‘When our professional relationship began, I was asked to help Tiger utilise his own instincts and feel while playing pain free,’’ Como said.
‘‘I think we’ve accomplished that and I’m proud of the results.’’
‘ I am no longer the young gun out there.’ K J CHOI