K.J. Choi chosen as captain's assistant for Presidents Cup

K.J. Choi appears as assistant captain during the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 11, 2019. [GETTY IMAGES]

Korean golfer K.J. Choi has been appointed as one of four assistant captains for the 2022 Presidents Cup, joining the leadership of the International Team for the third time.

Choi is one of four assistants of captain Trevor Immelman, alongside Canada’s Mike Weir, Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas. He was previously an assistant in 2015, when the tournament made its debut in Korea, and 2019.

Choi has competed in the Presidents Cup three times, in 2003, 2007 and 2011, and has a 6-8 record. In 2011 he was partnered with Ogilvy, and the two also served as assistant captains together at the 2019 tournament.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be selected again to be a part of the International Team as a captain’s assistant,” Choi said.

“After knowing Trevor for so many years, it is clear to me that his passion and dedication will make for a remarkable captaincy, and it makes me proud to join him in Charlotte. I look forward to working together as a team to bring unity among our nationalities into a collective representation of the International Shield.”

Until early this year, Choi was the most successful Asian golfer ever to compete on the PGA Tour, with eight titles to his name. He now shares that accolade with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who won the Sony Open in January to tie Choi's record.

Choi became the most successful golfer in Asia in 2011, when he won his eighth title at the The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in a playoff against David Toms of the United States. That achievement stood for more than a decade.

International Team captain Immelman chose Choi as an assistant because of the experience he brings to the role.

“K.J. has become an integral member of the International Team over the years, helping to define who we are as a whole,” Immelman said. “He is a fountain of knowledge, a calming presence behind the scenes, and commands an incredible amount of respect as one of the most decorated Asian golfers in history.”

Choi is now playing on both the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions as he qualified for the Champions Tour in May of 2020 after turning 50. Just a year and a half later, Choi won his first Champions Tour title at the PURE Insurance Championship, marking another high point in his storied career.

The history of the king of Korean golf dates back to 2002, when Choi became the first Korean ever to win on the PGA Tour at the Compaq Classic of New Orleans. That victory was quickly followed by another title at the Tampa Bay Classic later that year. The rest is history: Choi piled up a total of eight PGA Tour titles and 10 international titles, most recently at the 2012 CJ Invitational hosted by Choi himself on the KPGA Tour.

After he underwent surgery in 2018 to remove a tumor in his thyroid, Choi missed out on playing golf for eight months but was soon back on the course.

The 2022 Presidents Cup will be held at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina from Sept. 20 to Sept. 25.

BY JIM BULLEY AND YUN SO-HYANG [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]