He’s back. By popular demand. For one week only. Hosung Choi aka the player with ‘The Fisherman’s Swing.’
Yes, Korea’s Choi, who possesses one of the wackiest swings in golf, will strut his stuff at the SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club from January 16-19.
The 46-year-old became a viral sensation after his swing and his swagger were featured at the Kolon Korea Open in 2018.
Since then, his accentuated follow through, replete with pirouettes and urgings to his ball in flight have been showcased at tournaments throughout the world including last year’s SMBC Singapore Open where Choi was a big draw.
He showed then that he is more than just a showman by finishing tied 12th and last year on the Japan Tour he won for the third time at the HEIWA PGA Championship in November.
That finish helped him to 10th spot on the Japan Tour moneylist, matching his 2018 performance.
Choi, ranked 165th in the world, is part of a strong Japan Tour contingent at the joint-sanctioned tournament that also includes superstar Ryo Ishikawa, a three-time winner on the circuit last year.
Major winners Justin Rose of England and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, American Matt Kuchar, a multiple winner on the PGA Tour, and in-form defending champion Jazz Janewattananond are also in the line-up.
Choi, whose swing has been dubbed the ‘craziest’ in golf, has been featured on the Golf Channel, which analysed his game, while Golf Digest and other publications have written about him extensively.
In an article in the New York Times, Choi was described as ‘a cross between (Hall of Famer) Chi Chi Rodriguez and (dancer/entertainer) Fred Astaire’.
“I actually was fascinated, clearly, by his swing, and the way he moves around,” said former world number one and 2016 SMBC Singapore Open runner-up Jordan Spieth, after watching Choi at a PGA Tour event. “It’s just really entertaining. I think people are really excited to see him.”
