Choi comes to aid of tornado-hit South East

Recent Players champion donates $200,000 to relief efforts

South Korean golfer K.J. Choi has dedicated $200,000 from his win at the Players Championship to help victims of tornados that have plagued the South East of the USA in recent weeks.

While admitting the Players play-off win over David Toms at TPC Sawgrass – golf’s richest event with a winner’s share of $1.71m – was the highlight of his career, the 41-year-old acknowledged others are enduring a personal hardship.

“When I heard the news about the tornados, not long after the Japan tsunami disaster, I knew I had to do something to help them as well,” said the eight-time PGA Tour winner, who is based in Houston, Texas.

“While winning the Players Championship was a defining point in my life, there were those who were going through their low point.

“I want the victims of the tornados to know that their misfortunes will not be ignored.”

Known for his charitable work, Choi established the KJ Choi Foundation in 2007. Since then, it has supported various groups worldwide and seeks to help the poor and deliver educational opportunities for young people.

The charity will administer the $200,000 donation to help rebuild the homes and lives of those in the tornado-hit states.

Choi is not the first golfer to set aside winnings to help people caught up in natural disasters. Earlier this year, Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa pledged 100 percent of his prizemoney in 2011 towards helping victims of the tsunami that caused devastation to the North East of his home country.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered