AUGUSTA, Georgia (Yonhap News) ― South Korean PGA Tour veteran Choi Kyoung-ju on Tuesday unveiled his plan to open a huge golf center in his native land, saying he wants to help young players hone their skills without worrying about costs.
Ahead of the Masters, the season’s first major, at Augusta National Golf Club, Choi told reporters about his project, tentatively titled, “Build a Dream Nest.”
“Young players in South Korea don’t really have a place where they can practice comfortably, and the same can be said about top players,” Choi said. “I will build a practice facility standing three stories high, complete with a short game range, bunkers and par-3 holes, so players can improve themselves without concerns about money.”
Choi Kyoung-ju
Choi, one of the most successful Asian golfers in PGA Tour history with eight career wins, said he will have to go through some complicated administrative steps, but he fully expects his center to be built “within five years.”
According to Choi, the golf center will bear the name of his charity organization, the KJ Choi Foundation, named after his more famous moniker in the U.S.
“Long after I am gone, golfers should be able to work on their games there,” Choi said. “To make that possible, this facility should be built on state-owned land with state funding, as a way for the government to give back to the society.”
A noted philanthropist throughout his career, Choi in February was named the 2013 recipient of the Charlie Bartlett Award, presented by the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA). The award, named after the GWAA’s first secretary, recognizes professional golfers for their charity work and their “contributions to the betterment of society.”
Choi is the first Asian winner of the award since it was first presented in 1971. The ceremony will be held Wednesday at Augusta National.
“This award isn’t just for me as an individual,” he said. “I think this sends a message to other Asian golfers that they will too have opportunities, and they should also try to make changes with their actions.”
Choi, who began his U.S. career in 2000 but who still speaks limited English, said he took two weeks to prepare his seven-minute acceptance speech in English. The 42-year-old quipped that he will finally have a chance to present “my Konglish” before an American audience.
Turning more serious, Choi said the speech covers his life’s journey that has taken him this far from the remote southern South Korean island of Wando.
“I’ve made it this far from Wando, which only had one driving range, with help from a lot of people,” Choi said. “And that is why I am trying to help others now, and I am going to keep helping them. That’s the gist of my speech.”
For the first two rounds of the Masters, Choi has been paired with two former major winners: Zach Johnson of the U.S., the 2007 Masters champion, and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, the 2010 U.S. Open winner.
Choi’s best performance at the Masters is a third-place finish in 2004. He missed the cut last year.
This is his 11th consecutive appearance at the Masters. Over time, he said he’s learned not to stress over the result and to simply let things take care of themselves.
“On this golf course, as long as you don’t have negative thoughts about your shots and your body, you can play your own game,” Choi said. “Things are quite familiar around here, and it’s very clear to golfers where to hit and where not to hit on this course.”
Choi said he was pleased with his pairing with Johnson and McDowell, though in his mind, playing partners have little bearing on performance at the Masters.
“It’s important to control your own emotions here,” said Choi, who finished sixth last week at the Valero Texas Open, his best showing this season. “I love the (fast) greens here. I am going to try to enjoy myself as much as I can and hopefully that will lead to good results.”