LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. — Albin Choi turned last year’s LECOM Suncoast Classic into a major stepping stone in his return to playing professional golf.
The 29-year-old from Toronto shot a 66 in the Monday qualifier one year ago to earn a berth in the field of 144. He responded by firing a first-round, 9-under 62 to tie the tournament’s 18-hole record before eventually finishing in a tie for 14th place.
“It was a good week for me,” said Choi, who is back at Lakewood National Golf Club this week for another crack at the title. “It just means a little more to me now.”
Choi is back on solid ground this time around following a tumultuous decade in his life.
Choi starred at North Carolina State, where he won nine collegiate titles and was a three-time All-American before turning pro in 2013. He was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in the spring of 2013.
It was during his college career in 2011 that his mother Ericka took her own life.
“As far as the journey goes, it’s not something I saw coming or anyone else saw coming,” Choi said.
Choi soldiered on with his golf career, playing in 110 Korn Ferry tournaments with six top 10 finishes before the bottom fell out following the 2019 season. He lost his Korn Ferry playing status and suddenly found himself in some serious debt.
But Choi began the climb back by working as a caddie at the posh Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens. He was caddying as many as 36 holes per day, while he continued to work on his game.
Then Choi caught a break in 2020 when PGA Tour player Sungjae Im asked him to carry his bag for the Honda Classic. Im went on to win his first PGA title and Choi received 10% of Im’s $1.26 million paycheck, along with the base caddie rate and a healthy tip.
The two had become friends in 2018 while playing together on the Korn Ferry Tour. Choi, who speaks fluent English and Korean, also served as Im’s translator, as well as caddie, for a period of five months.
His time as Im’s caddy enabled him to get back on his financial feet and allowed him the opportunity to resume his own playing career. It also offered him a unique view of the game at its highest level.
“From a learning perspective, it was one of the best experiences I could have had,” Choi said. “I had a front-row seat to see how the players prepare and how they go about their business, on and off the golf course. I am always trying to learn. I got to experience that.
“I knew a lot of the guys out there. I watched how hard they worked. It motivated me to work a little bit harder. Seeing the level of play out there was good for me to see.”
For now, Choi is simply glad to be back on the course, playing the game he cares so much about.
“I’m just happy to be here with everything that has been going on the last few years,” he said. “I have been given another chance to play and compete, so I can’t ask for anything more.
“I love playing. It’s something that I have always done. As long as my body allows me to play, I am just going to keep playing as long as I can.”
LECOM Suncoast Classic
WHAT: Regular stop on the Korn Ferry Tour, the path to the PGA Tour.
WHO: 144 golfers competing for 72 holes of stroke play.
WHEN: Today-Sunday.
WHERE: Lakewood National Golf Club (Commander course, par-71, 7,112 yards).
PURSE: $750,000 (top prize is $135,000).
TICKETS: $20 at the gate for adults, children under-17, active duty military, veterans and first responders are admitted free of charge with a valid ID.
PARKING: Free.
