KJ Choi Grouped With Tiger Woods at Masters

K.J. Choi has a strong affection for the Masters, the first PGA major championship of the season that opens today.

The Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia matches his golfing style well, as the par 72 course has a wide fairway. Choi says he hopes to treat others with the traditional Korean bean paste soup “doenjangjjigae” at the Champion`s Dinner if he gets to wear the green jacket this year.

Falling to 96th in the world rankings early this year, the 40-year-old golfer thought he would not play in the Masters. He re-entered the top 50, however, after finishing second in two tournaments this year. Thus, Choi is the first Asian-born player to play in eight straight Masters.

In this year’s tournament, he is paired in the first two rounds with Tiger Woods, who returns to the green for the first time in five months. Choi will tee off with Woods and Matt Kuchar at 2:42 a.m. Friday Korean Standard Time.

Choi`s pairing with Woods seems to reflect the Korean’s seven wins on the U.S. PGA Tour and his status as Asia`s top golfer. Choi also won the AT&T National hosted by Woods in 2007. When Woods visited Korea for the first time in 2004, Choi played him in the Skins Game on Jeju Island.

Kuchar was paired with Woods in 1998 after winning the U.S. Amateur Championship the previous year.

Upon hearing that he will tee off with Woods, Choi said he had hoped to play in the same group with Woods. The Korean also expressed confidence, saying he had "no worries" in that he knows Woods` strengths and weaknesses and that he can play better with a big crowd.

kjs0123@donga.com