Choi Kyung-ju "Senior Tour Debut"..."Now a Rookie?"

On the Night of the 31st, the Alley Challenge Opens with the First Entry in the Champions Tour; Newcomers including Purik and Wie Also Join

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] 'Tank' Choi Kyung-ju (50, SK Telecom, photo) is making his debut on the PGA Champions (Senior) Tour.

He will compete on the night of the 31st (Korean time) at the Ally Challenge (total prize money $2 million) held at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club (par 72) in Grand Blanc, Michigan, USA. This tournament also marks the resumption of the 2020 season, which was suspended due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It is the first event in four months since Ernie Els (South Africa) secured his first Champions Tour victory at the Hoag Classic last March. It is about seven weeks later than the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 11 on the PGA Tour.

The Champions Tour is open only to players aged 50 and over. Choi Kyung-ju also celebrated his 50th birthday last May. It is worth noting that the Champions Tour, established in 1980, enjoys considerable popularity in the United States. Middle-aged and older fans with ample time and money attend tournaments to see former stars. In fact, the total prize money surpasses that of the LPGA Tour, and since there is usually no 'cut off,' players earn a substantial income.

For Choi Kyung-ju, it is especially meaningful to pioneer the Champions Tour following his PGA Tour career. This year, he plans to participate in both tours, leveraging a one-year exemption awarded to players who have made over 300 cuts. He completed his warm-up by successfully advancing to the final round for the third time at the 3M Open, which ended on the 27th. The Champions Tour has highlighted Choi Kyung-ju, Jim Furyk (USA), and Mike Weir (Canada) as the 'three rookies,' raising expectations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.