Choi shows his hear of gold

02 April 2010 , By New Straits Times

KOREAN superstar KJ Choi looks tough with his stocky frame, which earns him the nickname the “Tank” on Tour. Yet, despite the tough-guy looks Choi has shown a tender, compassionate touch his philanthropic endeavours. Deeply religious, he is known for the various charitable efforts back home in Korea as well as the USA where he plies his professional trade on the PGA Tour.

Recently, Choi has taken his philanthropic effort to Malaysia, when he made good on his pledge to donate his winnings from his Iskandar Johor Open victory last October at the Royal Johor Country Club.

Choi took time off from his tournament routine at the Maybank Malaysia Open to give away the donation in a simple cheque presentation ceremony at Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam. The ceremony is also attended by Hilmi Mohd Nashir, the Chief Operating Officer of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), the title sponsor of the Iskandar Johor Open and Manjit Majid Abdullah, the Secretary of the Johor Golf Associaton.

“I am thankful to the sponsors of the Iskandar Johor Open for inviting me to participate in the championship last year and to the golf fans and the Johor people for supporting me during the tournament, which in no small way spurred me to win,” said Choi.

“It is therefore fitting that I do my part to benefit the people of Johor. I hope the small contribution I made today will go a long way to help the charities continue their excellent work to bring greater good to the community. That is the core vision of the KJ Choi Foundation – to link and inform people and then provide them with then opportunity to help the poor.”

Choi donated a total of US$87,000 (approximately RM293,500) which is the sum after deducting caddie fees, and withholding taxes. His contribution will benefit six Johor-based charities with each receiving US$14,500 (approximately RM49,000).

The charities are Handicap Association of Johor Bahru, Sari Saujaan Handicapped Children Home, the Boy’s Brigade in Malaysia (the 1st Johor Bahru Company), Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARQ), Princess Elizabeth School (for the Blind and Visually Handicapped) and Badan Amal Tenaga Isteri Wakil-Wakil Rakyat Negeri Johor (JUITA).

The donation was made available through the KJ Choi Foundation which was co-founded by him and several others in 2007.

“Having won the tournament in style at his first attempt, we are indeed thankful that KJ Choi, through the KJ Choir foundation, has not forgotten the people of Malaysia, and Johor in particular. His kind gesture to donate his prize money to six deserving organizations in Iskandar Malaysia certainly exemplifies his noble values and that sports is not all about winning but also assisting others in need to be winner in their life,” said Hilmi.

“We are confident that the contributions will be used diligently and care to fulfill the objectives of the respective organizations in helping those in need. We also hope that Choi will come back to defend his title in IJO 2010 and pray for him to win so that he can contribute more to charity this year.”

Last year Choi celebrated his return to Asia by claiming a four-stroke victory in the rain-disrupted Iskandar Johor Open. The victory marked a happy return to Asia for Choi, who honed his skills on the Asian Tour before turning his attention to the PGA Tour, where he has won seven titles.