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Golf Plus: Dossier By Jaime Diaz
K.J. CHOI
HEIGHT: 5'8" WEIGHT: 185 pounds WORLD RANKING: 134
BORN: Seoul FAMILY: Wife, Kyun Jung Kim; son, Ho Jun (5-9-97) DISTINCTION: First Korean-born player to earn PGA Tour card. A two-time winner in 1999 in Japan, he earned the last fully exempt spot at November's Q school with a three-under 67 in the final round. 2000 RECORD: Missed cut at Hawaiian Open, Pebble Beach and Buick Invitational. BEFORE GOLF: Teen powerlifter. Could squat 350 pounds as a 95-pound 13-year-old. No longer lifts heavy weights. SWING MODEL: Ian Woosnam PLAYING STYLE: Shortish off the tee (257.6-yard average, ranks 141st) but normally straight, although he's only 133rd in driving accuracy in '00. Steady iron player. His caddie, Casey Kerr, calls Choi "the Korean Fred Funk." Short game needs to improve. SWING FLAW: "I bend too much at the top, a bad habit from doing so many squats as a weightlifter." FAVORITE TIME TO PLAY: Early morning, "when the fairway is covered with dew, shining like pearls." BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JAPANESE AND U.S. TOURS: Speed of greens MOST DIFFICULT ADJUSTMENT TO U.S.: "The United States is very large, and touring the entire country is not an easy job. Asians need strong character to endure." ON MEDIA COVERAGE: (More than a dozen Korean reporters routinely cover the tournaments in which he plays.) "It's better than being unknown. I know all eyes are on me. I feel some burden, but it is starting to settle down." GOAL: To be top 100 on money list this year, top 30 in three years and eventually to win. ON MEETING SE RI PAK: "We were both taking physical tests at the Korean Physical Science Research Institute in 1997. We didn't talk much, but Se Ri left a very strong impression. I could feel that she wasn't an ordinary golfer." WHY HE LIVES IN JACKSONVILLE: To be close to the TPC at Sawgrass practice facility, where "being around great players like David Duval and Vijay Singh motivates me to work hard." FRIENDS AMONG U.S. PLAYERS: Fred Couples, Matt Gogel and Jerry Smith FAVORITE AMERICAN FOOD: Egg McMuffin FAVORITE AMERICAN MOVIE: First Blood Issue date: February 28, 2000
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