2011: Collected his eighth career PGA TOUR victory with a playoff triumph over David Toms at THE PLAYERS. Converted a 10-foot, 4-inch birdie putt on No. 17 and a 4-foot, 10-inch par putt on No. 18 to force the playoff, the first of his PGA TOUR career. Became the first Korean and first Asian-born player to win THE PLAYERS. His win at TPC Sawgrass was his first victory since the 2008 Sony Open in Hawaii, a span of 74 events on TOUR. Collected the win despite a bogey on the par-5 11th, a hole he eagled in the second round, a hole that played as the third-easiest for the week.

Posted a T7 at the Northern Trust Open for his first top-10 of the season.

Finished T6 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the strength of a tournament-best 8-under-par 64 in the second round.

Making his 40th start in a major championship, carded a final-round even-par 72 to finish T8, the third top-10 finish of his career in nine starts at the Masters (third in 2004, T4 in 2010 and T8 in 2011). Now has nine consecutive par-or-better rounds at Augusta National, the best streak of his career at the Masters.

Claimed T3 honors in May at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, site of his maiden victory in 2002. Charged up the leaderboard Sunday with six birdies to claim the top-five finish.

Announced May 23, following his PLAYERS Championship win that he would host the K.J. Choi Invitational in October at Sky72 GC in Incheon, South Korea. The event was a co-sponsored event between the Asian Tour and the Korean Tour. Not only played the good host at the event at Haesley Nine Bridges GC but also won. Began the final round two strokes behind Anthony Kim, but a final-round 67 gave him a two-stroke win over fellow countryman Noh Seung-Yul.

Making his 300th career PGA TOUR start, the 2007 AT&T National champion finished two strokes behind Nick Watney at the AT&T National for the fourth runner-up finish of his career. Jumped to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings as a result. Carded an Aronimink GC record (later topped by Watney in the third round) with a second-round, 6-under 64 to carry a two-stroke lead into the weekend. By finishing second, it marked the seventh time in eight attempts he has finished no worse than second when holding the lead at the midway point of a TOUR event (T16 at 2008 British Open).

Finished T10 at the BMW Championship, his third straight top-10 finish at the event.

Making his eighth start at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, finished T3 for his third-consecutive top 10 at the event. It represented a career-best eighth top-10 finish of the season. Finished No. 11 in the FedExCup, giving him four top-15 finishes in the five seasons of the season-long competition. Also finished a career-best fourth on the official money list.

In his third Presidents Cup appearance, recorded a 3-2-0 record in a losing cause for the International team. 2010: Bounced back with nine top-10 finishes after a sub-par season in 2009, earning a return visit to the TOUR Championship. Finished 15th in final FedExCup standings.

Was second at the Transitions Championship, joining winner Jim Furyk as the only two players to post all four rounds in the 60s. Also posted four rounds in the 60s for 2002 win at Innisbrook's Copperhead Course. Joined Furyk, Vijay Singh (2004) and Jesper Parnevik (2004) as the only players to shoot four sub-70 rounds in tournament history. It was his first top-10 finish since a T3 at 2009 Northern Trust Open, advancing from 75th to 47th in the Official World Golf Ranking just two weeks before the Masters Tournament.

Finished T4 at the Masters after becoming the first player to be paired with Tiger Woods in all four rounds of a tournament. In 35 major appearances before the 2010 Masters, his only top-five finish came at the 2004 Masters (third). Has three top-25 finishes at Augusta.

Next top-10 finish came 13 starts later, opening with an even-par 71 and then carding three consecutive, 2-under 69s in difficult scoring conditions to finish T3 at the BMW Championship. His second top-five at the event in three years helped him jump from No. 52 to No. 23 in the FedExCup standings, earning a spot in THE TOUR Championship.

Finished T7 in his seventh career start at THE TOUR Championship, with rounds of 68-68-74-68. 2009: Solid season with six top-25 finishes, including a third-place finish.

One of four players to record all four rounds in the 60s at the Northern Trust Open, finishing T3 and two strokes behind champion Phil Mickelson. It was his third top-10 finish at the tournament and second consecutive (T7 in 2008).

Shot a 64 late in the year to win the rain-shortened Iskandar Johor Open on the Asian Tour in his home country of South Korea. 2008: Captured his seventh career victory (Sony Open in Hawaii) on his way to a 10th-place finish on the FedExCup points list. Recorded five top-10s.

Survived blustery final-round conditions at Waialae CC and a spirited charge by Rory Sabbatini, closing with a 1-over 71 for a three-shot victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii. The wire-to-wire victory gave Choi a fourth straight year with a PGA TOUR win, joining Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh with active streaks that long.

Finished T5 at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Lost to eventual champion Tiger Woods, 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals.

Didn't crack the top 10 until 14 tournaments later, finishing T5 at the BMW Championship and jumping into the top 10 on the FedExCup points list (No. 8).

Ended the season with a ninth-place finish at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. 2007: Had best season of career, with two victories, at the Memorial Tournament and AT&T National, a spot on the International Team for The Presidents Cup and a fifth-place finish in the FedExCup standings.

Carded rounds of 69-70-67-65—271 in claiming his fifth career TOUR title at the Memorial Tournament.

Final-round 65 tied the low final round for a winner at the Memorial. Managed to get up-and-down for par on the final three holes to solidify the win. Victory was special since he learned the game in native Korea by reading host Jack Nicklaus' instruction books.

Five weeks after winning Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament, took the title at the inaugural AT&T National, with Tiger Woods as the host. Shot a final-round 68 for a 9-under 271 total to defeat Steve Stricker by three strokes and win for the sixth time, the most TOUR victories by an Asian-born player. Gave partial credit to improved putting to the use of a larger putting grip.

Held a two-stroke lead through 36 holes at The Barclays and finished second, one stroke behind third-round leader Steve Stricker. It marked the first time in his career that he didn't win after leading a TOUR event through 36 holes (4-1). Moved over the $4-million mark in a single-season earnings for the first time in his career.

Ended the PGA TOUR Playoffs fifth in the FedExCup standings, earning a $1-million bonus.

Went 1-3-0 in his second Presidents Cup. 2006: Made 22 cuts in 26 events played and collected four top-10s, including winning the last full-field event of the season (Chrysler Championship) which earned him a spot in the TOUR Championship.

A T7 at the PGA Championship was his first top-10 in a major since a T6 at the 2004 PGA Championship. It was his third career top-10 in a major in 23 starts.

The 2002 champion held the 36- and 54-hole leads at the Chrysler Championship. He fired a final-round 67 to win by four strokes. Choi and Shigeki Maruyama are the only Asian-born players to win multiple events on TOUR.

Earned a spot in the field at THE TOUR Championship for the fourth time in his seven-year TOUR career. 2005: Won for the third time with win at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, becoming the second Asian player to win in Greensboro (Shigeki Maruyama, 2003). It was his fourth consecutive top-10 at Forest Oaks CC.

Selected to represent South Korea at the World Cup in Portugal.

Also won the SK Telecom Open by five strokes on the Asian PGA in early May, an event he won in 2003. 2004: In second Masters appearance, finished solo third, three strokes behind champion Phil Mickelson. Had a 30 on the front nine in second round and 31 on the back nine in final round. Final round included an eagle on the par-4 11th hole.

Earned second top-10 in a major with a T6 at the PGA Championship. One of only 10 players to record multiple top-10s in the majors in 2004. 2003: Finished in top 30 for second consecutive season on strength of six top-10s, including a runner-up in the season-opening Mercedes Championships. Fired course-record 11-under-par 62 in third round, and entered final round two strokes back of Ernie Els.

Ran off five consecutive top-10s, including a win on the European Tour, beginning with a T4 at the Bell Canadian Open. Posted a final-round 67 to capture the Linde German Masters, his first career victory on the European Tour. The next week in United States recorded an 8-under-par 62 in the second round, good for T7 in San Antonio, and followed that with a T6 at the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship.

Was chosen by Gary Player as a Captain's Pick for the 2003 Presidents Cup. 2002: Third season on TOUR proved to be the breakthrough as he was one of three first-time winners to win twice.

Became the first South Korean winner in TOUR history, closing with 5-under-par 67 for a four-stroke victory in the Compaq Classic of New Orleans. Fourth Asian to win on the TOUR, joining Isao Aoki and Shigeki Maruyama of Japan and T.C. Chen of Taiwan. Donated 10 percent of his $810,000 check to underprivileged South Koreans back home and to the Christian church his family attends near Houston.

Earned his second victory in wire-to-wire fashion in his 86th career start at the Tampa Bay Classic. Became the second Asian-born player to win multiple events on the TOUR, joining Shigeki Maruyama of Japan, who earlier in the year earned his second victory at the Verizon Byron Nelson Classic.

On Sept. 23, a day after his win in Tampa, had an inflamed appendix removed in Houston. Began suffering stomach pain on the eve of the final round at Tampa Bay. 2001: Finished season inside the top 125 for first time in his career.

Interest in golf grew after one of his high school teachers recommended he try the sport. Began studying Jack Nicklaus lesson books and videos and spent long hours hitting practice balls on his island home's only practice range. Later studied under Phil Ritson.

Currently coached by Steve Bann. First Korean to earn PGA TOUR card.

Grew up the son of a farmer/fisherman and as a teenage powerlifter earned the nickname "Tank" because he could squat 350 pounds although he weighed a mere 95. He didn't have the upper-body strength to pursue that sport, so he turned to golf at age 16.