PGA Tour’s Choi: The $10 Million Man

South Korea`s Choi Kyoung-ju, 36, became the second Asian player in PGA history to hit a career prize total of over $10 million (around 9.5 billion won) by making a top 10 finish in the U.S.

Choi, also called by his nickname, “Tank,” ranked ninth, carding a 13-under 267 overall, closing with a six-under 64 in the Bank Championship Tournament (total prize money of $4 million) at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course (par 70) in Milwaukee that ended Sunday (local time).

Choi closed to storm back into the top 10 after a fall to 22nd a day earlier, making seven birdies from the 5th hole (par 3). He made another top-10 finish in three months after ranking 6th in the Shell Houston Open in April, totaling around $10.04 million in prize by adding $104,000 at this event.

Only 60 PGA players including Choi have reached the milestone of $10 million in career earnings. Even John Daly, who has won five times, including two majors, since his debut in the U.S. PGA Tour in the 1980s, does not exceed a total of $9 million in his earnings. Japan`s Shigeki Maruyama is the only Asian player who has won more than $10 million (around $12 million), other than Choi Kyoung-ju.

Choi has played on the U.S. PGA Tour as a full seed since 2000 after passing the U.S. PGA’s qualifying school in 1997 and has been successful, winning $2.2 million in two games in 2002. Meanwhile, 47-year-old Corey Pavin of the U.S. took the tournament title by scoring a 20-under 260.

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