'Oldest Seed Holder' Choi Hoseong: "I Wish More Players Like Me Joined KPGA"

Working at Anyang Benest, I Accidentally Encountered Golf
A Junior Is More of a 'Positive Stimulus' Than a Competitor

"I never thought I would play this long. I had no connection to golf at all."

When asked about the secret to his 'long run,' the 'oldest tour card holder' Choi Ho-seong gave an unexpected answer. Choi Ho-seong did not know about golf driving ranges until he was 23 and worked part-time at Anyang Benest CC. He once thought the green nets at the driving range were chicken coops. Then one day, a shot he took for fun changed his life. After many missed swings, he finally hit the ball properly, and it flew about 200 meters before landing. That was the first time he experienced the feeling of the club striking the ball with a 'tak' sound. The thrill lingered in his mind even before going to bed. Although it started by chance, he trained rigorously afterward. He woke up every day at 4:30 a.m. and practiced for 6 to 7 hours. After joining the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) in 1999, he accumulated two domestic wins starting with the 2008 Hana Tour Championship and three wins on the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO). This year, he also added the title of the oldest tour card holder. As the only player in his 50s on the KPGA Tour this season, he competes alongside formidable younger players.

Professional golfer Choi Ho-seong. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@

On the 10th, Choi Ho-seong met with Asia Economy and explained, "The juniors are not just competitors but people who mutually influence each other positively." He said that whenever he sees juniors with excellent skills and superior physical conditions, he feels motivated as a fellow player rather than competitive. Recently, he admired Kim Joo-hyung, who became the youngest player to win twice on the PGA Tour. Kim Joo-hyung was the first player born in the 2000s to win the PGA Tour Wyndham Championship in August last year and secured his second win two months later in October at the Shriners Children's Open. His record, faster than that of the 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA), became a hot topic in Korea. Choi said, "Seeing juniors perform excellently abroad gives me vicarious satisfaction. I want to learn from their strengths and break my own limits."

He also gained media attention at a late age. In 2018, his so-called 'fisherman swing,' where he lifts one foot and spins around during the finish, became a sensation. This led to an invitation to the PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February the following year, his first PGA Tour event. While there were many positive reactions, some criticized his swing form as unorthodox. He explained, "The fisherman swing is a posture I developed to maximize power in my shots because I lack the strength and flexibility of younger players. Just as everyone looks different, swing postures can also vary."

This year, Choi Ho-seong is also participating in the senior tour alongside the regular tour. While focusing on the regular tour, he plans to join the senior tour whenever possible. Although he is the oldest player on the regular tour, he is a 'rookie' on the senior tour. He said, "When I go to the senior tour, I am just a newcomer. I increasingly feel that age is just a number. Personally, I hope there will be many more players in their 50s like me on the regular tour."

Professional golfer Choi Ho-seong. Recently learning painting, he is showing his work titled "Swing," painted in the style of French artist Henri Matisse. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

Recently, he started a new hobby. He became interested in 'one-stroke painting,' where the brush never leaves the paper. His first work was a painting of himself performing the fisherman swing. Choi Ho-seong said, "Painting is a means to freely imagine beyond golf, even if just for a moment." He also finds happiness in spending time with his children. He records videos of himself and his children mimicking lines from TV dramas or impersonating singers' voices, and watches these videos throughout the season to gain strength.

Golf, which he encountered by chance, has now become his entire life. He said, "Golf is both a livelihood that protects my family and my whole life. Even though I have played for a long time, golf is still difficult. I play each shot carefully, thinking that my family depends on every stroke."

His future goal is to maintain his skills as they are now. Choi Ho-seong emphasized, "It is not easy to keep my place in the golf world where young players with great strength and skills emerge every year. Ultimately, the answer seems to be consistent self-management. I will exercise daily, eat healthy foods, and keep working hard."

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