9 Things You Didn't Know About KJ Choi

Here are nine facts on the popular Korean golfer KJ Choi.

9 Things You Didn't Know About KJ Choi
(Image credit: Getty Images)

9 Things You Didn't Know About KJ Choi

1. Choi was born in Wando, South Korea

2. He turned pro in 1994.

3. His interest in golf grew after one of his high school teachers recommended he try the sport. He then began studying Jack Nicklaus lesson books and videos and spent long hours hitting practice balls on his island home's only practice range. 

4. Grew up the son of a farmer/fisherman and as a teenage powerlifter earned the nickname "Tank" because he could squat 350 pounds although he weighed a mere 95 pounds. He didn't have the upper-body strength to pursue that sport, so he turned to golf, at age 16.

5. He became the first Korean to earn a PGA Tour card.

KJ Choi

(Image credit: Getty Images)

6. The KJ in his name stands for Kyoung-Ju.

7. Choi won eight times on the PGA Tour, including some huge events like the 2007 Memorial Tournament, and 2011 Players Championship.

8. Choi played the role of professional golfer T.K. Oh in the movie Seven Days in Utopia. Other players to star in the movie were Rickie Fowler, Stewart Cink and Rich Beem.

9. Choi has done a lot of charity work and often gave huge sums to charities after playing well. For example, following his win at the 2011 Players Championship, he donated $200,000 to help victims of the tornadoes that ravaged the southeastern United States in April of that year. 

Through the K.J. Choi Foundation he then donated his $100,000 winnings from the 2013 ISPS Handa World Cup to help with the Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts in the Philippines. The funds were used to provide relief supplies to the areas worst hit by the typhoon.

Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT%/Cuater The Ringer