About K.J. Choi
K.J. Choi is a professional golfer from Wando, South Korea. Since turning pro in 1994, Choi has won 30 professional events including eight on the PGA Tour. His most notable win is the 2011 Players Championship.
K.J. Choi Quick Facts
| Born | May 19, 1970 |
| Hometown | Wando, South Korea |
| College | N/A |
| Turned Pro | 1994 |
| Major Championship Wins | 0 |
| PGA Tour Win | 8 |
| Total Career Wins | 30 |
| Career Earnings | $32,835,053 |
| Spouse | Hyunjung Kim |
*wins and career earnings current through December 2022
K.J. Choi Career Highlights
K.J. Choi turned pro in 1994 after fulfilling his military obligation to his home country of South Korea. He played much of his early professional golf on the Korean Tour and Asia Tour where he earned his first professional win at the 1995 Phantom Open. His play qualified him for the PGA Tour in 1999, becoming the first Korean golfer to earn a PGA Tour card.
Despite having to requalify after the 2000 season, Choi had consistent success on the PGA Tour starting with his first win at the 2002 Compaq Classic of New Orleans where he won by four strokes over Dudley Hart and Geoff Ogilvy. He followed that up with another victory at the 2002 Tampa Bay Classic.
From 2005 to 2008, Choi collected five victories at staple events on the PGA Tour, including back-to-back wins at the Chrysler Classic in 2005-06, and both the Memorial Tournament and AT&T National in 2007.
After Choi’s victory at the 2008 Sony Open, he donated $320,000 to the families of a warehouse fire in Seoul, South Korea, which killed over forty people.
K.J. Choi’s most notable win came at the 2011 Players Championship. He held a one-shot lead on the final hole, but a birdie by David Toms sent the duo to a sudden-death playoff at TPC Sawgrass. Choi won on the first playoff hole and afterward, he donated $200,000 to tornado victims in the U.S.
Throughout his PGA Tour career, Choi has six top-10 finishes in major championships. His best finish was at the 2004 Masters where he finished in solo third place. Later that season he tied for sixth at the PGA Championship.
In 2020, Choi turned 50 and qualified for the PGA Tour Champions. He earned his first win the following year at the 2021 PURE Insurance Championship.
In total, K.J. Choi has 30 professional wins across all major golf tours. He has a career earning a total of $32,835,053.
Choi has been a part of three International Presidents Cup teams (2003, 2007, 2011) and has represented South Korea in the WGC-World Cup three times (2002, 2003, and 2005).
K.J. Choi’s golf swing has been observed as one of the most consistent and repeatable golf swings on the PGA Tour. He generates considerable power despite having a relatively small frame of 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds.
About K.J. Choi
K.J. Choi was born on May 19, 1970 in Wando, South Korea. His given name in Korean is Choi Kyung-Ju. In 1995, he married Hyunjung Kim and they have three children. Choi lives in Southlake, Texas.
Choi was given the nickname, “Tank” in South Korea at the age of 13. At that age, he was a competitive powerlifter and was able to squat 350 pounds despite weighing less than 100 pounds himself.
Known as one of the most charitable players to ever compete on the PGA Tour, much of his reported earnings have been donated to his charity, the K.J. Choi Foundation.