Refer Report
KPGA Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Choi Gyeong-ju Invitational on the 3rd… Choi: “This year we will play until the weekend”
Jang Yu-bin, Ham Jeong-woo, Choi Gyeong-ju, and Kim Min-gyu (from left) are taking a commemorative photo with the trophy between them at a press conference before the opening of the KPGA Tour Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Choi Gyeong-ju Invitational held at the Ferrum Club on the 2nd. Provided by KPGA
“I was shocked by what Professional Choi said today.”
Ham Jeong-woo, winner of the 2023 Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Tour Grand Prize, said at an official press conference a day before the opening of the Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational held at the Ferrum Club (par 72) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do on the 2nd that the experience he heard from senior Choi Kyung-ju struck a deep chord in his heart.
Ham Jeong-woo, who is aiming to win this competition for the third time following 2021 and 2023, said that he learned a deep lesson that juniors should take into account from the questions and answers focused on Choi Kyung-ju throughout the press conference. “I was shocked when Pro Choi talked about the serious atmosphere of the PGA Senior Tour,” he said. “I thought it was a place where senior players who achieved a lot had fun, and I was able to understand why they went there.”
Kyung-Joo Choi, who is rewriting the history of Korean men’s golf by winning 17 wins on the KPGA Tour and 8 wins on the U.S. PGA Tour, as well as this year’s major tournament (The Senior Open) at the PGA Tour Champions for players over 50 years of age, is confident that he will reach his new peak this year. He talked about his efforts and attitude to get hit, as well as warm advice and bitter words toward his juniors.
Kyeong-ju Choi said, “Most senior tour players who have achieved a lot always do their best to prepare for competitions. “I went to the Champions Tour for the first time four years ago and thought I was the youngest, so I was shocked,” he said. “From then on, I quit drinking alcohol and carbonated drinks, and I also managed my physical strength thoroughly.”
He shared a variety of experiences and know-how, such as entering the PGA Tour for the first time and concentrating on practicing in a trance-like state, hitting 1,000 balls a day, and mental management methods to control his mind and not get excited when a play does not go well during a tournament.
Choi Gyeong-ju said, “I often lose my temper when I get upset during competitions. “If I can’t stand it and say ‘Eight’ and ruin my play, it will happen again next time,” he said. “It was also helpful to admit that I made a mistake during a competition and to try to keep my heart rate from going above 80 so I wouldn’t get too excited.” .
Choi Kyeong-ju, who looked back on the moment when she became the oldest winner (54 years old) on the KPGA Tour at the SK Telecom Open in May as “the most touching moment in my golf history,” said, “I have not made the cut in this tournament for the past three years in a row, but this year I won. “I will come in early, adapt to the time difference, and be in good physical condition, so I will play well until the weekend,” he pledged.
Source: Korean