Kyung-Joo Choi, the 'Tank' who has played the role of 'Pioneer' of Korean men's golf, takes on a new challenge. Kyung-Joo Choi, the first Korean player to advance to the US Pro Golf (PGA) Tour and scored eight wins in Asia, the highest number in Asia, became 50 years old and became eligible for the PGA Senior Tour 'Champions Tour'. Kyung-Joo Choi has been playing on the PGA Tour for 20 years and earned a cumulative prize of 32,266,559 million (about 40 billion won) with 8 wins. The 28th place in the overall prize rankings, it is a point to realize how big a footsteps Choi Kyung-ju left on the PGA Tour.

Kyung-Joo Choi, who secured the Champions Tour 'Lifetime Seed' early from the achievements he had made on the PGA Tour, met his age condition on his 50th birthday last Tuesday (May 19th). The championship tour is also suspended due to the current Corona 19 situation, so Choi Kyung-joo's senior stage debut is scheduled for August. Several times Korean players have appeared on the Champions Tour, the arena of the old-time stars who have smashed world golf, but they haven't won yet. Kyung-Joo Choi left for the United States on Tuesday (19th), and we talked before leaving.

"It was the title of 'Korea's first' that I have always attached to me since I stepped on the PGA Tour 20 years ago. These are the first Koreans to enter the PGA Tour, the first Koreans to win the PGA, these are the first Korean players to win the Champions Tour. If you do it, I think it will be a very meaningful and valuable record. " We have set specific goals. "I've been preparing for the Champions Tour two years ago, and I'm still preparing for it. Now that I'm 50 years old, I have the goal of doing 10 wins to the 60th birthday and 1 win every year."

Senior tours are never taken for granted. "Some people say that around me." What is 10 wins? 20 and 30 wins are also possible. Bernhard Langer (Germany) had only three wins on the PGA Tour, but he went over the Champions Tour to over 40. ”But it doesn't seem like that, because there are a lot of powerful enemies, including Langer. , 7 players have to fight, but their skills are not that different from before, of course, they're going to go less than they are when they're young, but they're shortened, and the length of the Champions Tour venue is usually 7,000 yards. No, it's about 6,800 in short, PGA tours are usually 7,500, or 7,700 yards in length, and I have to prepare well to face the old players' championships. "

Before leaving Korea, Choi Kyung-ju joined his eldest son Hojun-gun at the Pohang Marine Corps Training Center on Monday (18th). Hojun-gun, 23 years old, has lived in the United States and has permanent residence in the United States since his father entered the PGA Tour in 2000. When he was 18, he chose Korean nationality and volunteered for the Marine Corps.

"This one impressed me twice. The first time was when I had to choose a nationality when I was 18. I chose Korea without hesitation, and if it is a Korean man, it's true that he fulfills his duty of military service, and the second." This is when I chose the Marine Corps. I was thinking about how many months, and then I was going to go to the Marine Corps. When I asked, I found out and decided, so I said, "Yes. Great Once you have decided, don't change your mind. ”Now I have only the last semester of college, but I'm going to go to the military to refresh my mind and body and worry about the future. . That was very remarkable. " "Before you enter the training center, take a salute, so I was saluted as if it were right, but it was very nice and impressive."
For the time being, Kyung-Joo Choi is planning to carry out a PGA regular tour along with a senior tour for the time being, and will continue his vigorous activities until preparation for the Olympics as the coach of the men's team of the Tokyo Olympics next year. "As the juniors are doing very well right now, as a coach of the national team, I would like to block well with a good pillar from the side and think that our juniors will do well if they become shields. Next year in Tokyo, our male players will be able to win medals. I think I will do well. "

"From the coming August, I started on a new stage called Champions Tour. When I first entered the PGA Tour 20 years ago, I heard that when Kyung-Joo Choi was coming back or trying to do well in the US, there were many concerns around me. I am here with a strong heart, and as a newcomer preparing for a new Champions Tour, I will approach the fans in such a way that I can prepare for a new start and win every year. I wish you all the time to be healthy and happy. Fight Corona 19 and make sure you win! "

(Photo = KPGA, Getty Image Korea, Yonhap News)