Growing roots: Celebrating K.J. Choi’s 25 years on PGA TOUR

When the South Korean contingent shows up in strength at this week’s THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson – a legacy tournament where Sung Kang and K.H. Lee have tasted victories in recent years – they will look back with great pride on the trailblazing exploits of one man who defied all odds to achieve his American dream.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of K.J. Choi’s historic achievement of becoming the first Korean to play full-time on the PGA TOUR in 2000. He was driven by his life’s mantra, “To be the best, you’ve got to play with the best”, and Choi proved he truly belonged.

Now 54 years of age, Choi enjoyed 498 starts in an illustrious PGA TOUR career and amassed eight victories, seven runner-ups and 68 top-10s. His biggest victory was at the THE PLAYERS Championship 2011, where he became the first Asian player to win the TOUR’s flagship tournament.

Choi’s decorated career inspired others, including Y.E. Yang and Charlie Wi during the 2000s, to follow in his footsteps, and Yang himself would write his own piece of history by becoming the first Asian male golfer to lift a major at the 2009 PGA Championship, where he outdueled Tiger Woods at Hazeltine. Fourteen South Koreans have earned PGA TOUR cards since Choi planted the Korean flag on PGA TOUR ground.

It is no wonder Choi is regarded as the "Godfather" of Korean golf. His journey is inspiring to say the least: a rice farmer’s son who learned the game on Wando Island off the coast of South Korea. Despite training regularly in powerlifting, he picked up a club for the first time at age 15 after being recruited for a newly established golf team in school. He washed cars to earn pocket money for his golf practice, and was so hooked on the game he would leave home in the wee hours to cross to the mainland and play as much golf as possible – the most number of holes he played in a day was 70 – before returning late at night.

“When I heard I’m known as the Godfather of Korean golf, it felt refreshing," Choi said with a laugh. "At the same time, I felt, 'Am I really that old already?' Back then, there were no Koreans, so I had doubts if I could make it onto the TOUR. It was a challenge.”

When he arrived for Qualifying School in 1999 following multiple wins on the Asian and Japan Tours, Choi hardly spoke English but coped in a new environment and embraced Western culture. Finding Korean food was hard. He earned the nickname “The Tank” from TV pundits who marveled at his single-minded pursuit of golfing excellence. By 2002, Choi broke through for his first PGA TOUR win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Si Woo Kim, a four-time TOUR winner and PLAYERS champion, holds Choi in the highest regard.

“K.J. took the first step, and it's great to see new Korean players coming up to follow in his footsteps,” said Kim.

“When he started on TOUR, they didn't have Google Maps back then, and he used physical maps to navigate his way around. I think that's amazing because the environment was harder than what it is now. He was a pioneer in everything and I admire him. Now, Korean players have an easier environment. I think I learned a lot from K.J. on being confident. When I first came out, I was intimidated by foreign players, and I thought how could I beat such big and strong players. I then said I should imitate K.J. He gave me the confidence to believe in myself.”

Byeong Hun An, one of the six Koreans in this week’s field at TPC Craig Ranch, said Choi proved to generations after him that leaving the comforts of home to pursue a golf career at the very highest level was attainable.

“Traveling halfway around the world to compete on the PGA TOUR is no easy task, but I do hope more Koreans will embrace the challenge,” said An, who has played full-time on TOUR since 2017. “In golf and life, breaking barriers is never easy. My generation grew up admiring K.J. as a trailblazer. It's not easy going to a foreign country and achieving success, but he became the first to do so. He instilled a lot of confidence in other players, including me.”

Sungjae Im, a two-time TOUR winner and highest-ranked Korean in the Official World Golf Ranking at No. 20, feels the current crop of Korean stars, which also includes Tom Kim, must now play their part in extending Choi’s legacy.

“We grew up watching him as kids," Im said. "I think it gave a lot of opportunities to the younger players. I think we need to show the next generation a good example. If we work hard and perform well, I think more Korean players will be able to make it to the PGA TOUR. K.J.’s success inspired future generations and opened countless of doors.

“When I was younger, I watched K.J. and (dreamt) of the PGA TOUR. It's not easy to join the TOUR. I was encouraged by K.J. We all feel the responsibility to inspire the next generation of Korean golfers and it motivates me to keep working hard and setting a good example.”

Yang, who, like Choi, now plays on PGA TOUR Champions, added: “When I saw K.J. enjoying success, I thought to myself that if he can do it, I can do it too. Seeing so many Koreans now playing in the Presidents Cup (Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Byeong Hun An and Si Woo Kim represented the 2024 International Team), for example, makes me feel that the best is yet to come for Korean golf.”

Choi’s advice to any aspiring golfer is simple – work harder than others.

“There are a few things that people talk about when they think of K.J. Choi, such as K.J. keeps changing grips and always wearing visor caps,” Choi said. “Of all these words, the phrase I like best was, ‘K.J. Choi, he worked really hard’. I like this because people acknowledge I have worked hard my entire life. I think that is my legacy.

“If other players practiced for two hours, I did three hours. I always tried to practice, and I was obsessed to overcome what people thought of me. As I look back at my career now, there are really some records to commemorate and I’m proud to be one of Korean players to play on TOUR.

“Over the last 25 years, seeing so many younger players following in my footsteps, working hard and staying dedicated, it makes me proud. I see the younger players now, they speak English, take good care of their bodies and they train hard, and watching them play and succeed in events like the Presidents Cup is truly admirable and it gives me hope that the next generation will achieve even greater things. I’m just really grateful.”