"Choi Jin-ho's 200th Game: Aiming for First Season with Over 3 Wins"

KPGA Korean Tour Sets Milestone Symbolizing Consistency
Record Number of Tournaments... Focus on Stamina and Short Game Training

"The first thought that comes to mind is, 'I really have played for a long time.'" (laughs)

Choi Jin-ho, who is active in the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA), said this on the 13th after reaching the milestone of participating in 200 Korean Tour events, adding, "It is meaningful because it is a record achieved by consistently playing almost every tournament."

Choi Jin-ho is checking his tee shot at the 2023 Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour season opener, the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open, held on the Old Course (par 72) at La Vie Belle Country Club in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do on the 13th.
[Photo by KPGA]

On that day, he participated in the first round of the 2023 KPGA Korean Tour season opener, the "18th DB Insurance Promy Open (total prize money 700 million KRW)," held at the Ravie Belle Country Club (par 72) Old Course in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, marking his 200th career Korean Tour event. This record was achieved 18 years after his debut on the Korean Tour in 2005.

Choi Jin-ho said, "I have paid a lot of attention to managing my body, so I have not suffered any major injuries and have never missed more than two consecutive tournaments." He cited "getting plenty of sleep and doing age-appropriate training for more than an hour a day" as the secret to reaching 200 events. Specifically, he focuses more on stretching joints and muscles rather than strength training.

Although a veteran with 8 Korean Tour wins, the 2006 Rookie of the Year award, 142 cuts made in tournaments, and cumulative prize money exceeding 2.4 billion KRW, Choi Jin-ho has not always had an easy path. For example, in 2008, he experienced a slump where he missed the cut in all 15 tournaments he entered. His attempt to improve driving distance by changing his swing, aiming to join the U.S. PGA Tour, backfired.

He recalled, "It was such a severe slump that I still clearly remember that year and even questioned whether I should continue my career as a player." He added, "Overcoming that slump the following year and returning to the tour in 2010 to win the Lake Hills Open was a turning point that led me to where I am now." He also received the KPGA Comeback Award that year.

Choi Jin-ho is teeing off at the 2023 Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour opening event, the 18th DB Insurance Promy Open, held on the 13th at La Vie Belle Country Club (Par 72) Old Course in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do.
[Photo by KPGA]

Having experienced many ups and downs while competing both domestically and on the European Tour (now DP World Tour), Choi Jin-ho prepared for the season with a long-term perspective to achieve results in the largest-ever Korean Tour this year. With the number of tournaments increased to a record 24, he focused on physical training by combining domestic and Thailand winter training, paying special attention to maintaining driving distance and improving his short game, which greatly affects performance. He made no changes to his club setup, continuing to use the "long putter," which he introduced in the latter half of last year and with which he won once (Bizplay Electronic Times Open).

He said, "If I perform well early in the season, I can manage the rest of the season more comfortably, so I plan to focus on this part." He added, "My personal best has been two wins in a single season on tour, but this year I want to surpass that and achieve three or more wins for the first time." Previously, in 2016, Choi Jin-ho won twice at the Dongbu Insurance Promy Open and the NEPS Heritage, and that year he swept four major awards: the Genesis Award, Genesis Money List Leader, Best Player Trophy, and Valentine Stay True Award.

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