Tournament article

HEIWA PGM CHAMPIONSHIP 2019

Ho-Sung Choi aka "Tora-san" takes away the spotlight on the Moving Saturday stage

On the windy stage at the Heiwa PGM Championship Saturday, Ho-Sung Choi aka "Tora-san" danced his way to make 6 birdies and 3 bogeys round of 68 to jump up at the top of the leaderboard, with total 10 under and 1 shot lead against the rest of the field.

The strength of the wind was at the peak on Round 3.
"I didn't fight the wind, I played along with the wind" said Ho-Sung Choi, who made quite a few fist pumps during his round today, literary dancing along with the wind.

He seemed to enjoy the Okinawa's ocean wind pounding onto the course, but he did have his bad breaks too. On 11th, he tried to avoid the left side OB zone and got caught in the right side bunker on his tee shot. On his 2nd shot, his 30 yards shot was blown away by the wind.
"It had no breaks, so fast like bullet train."
He shared the tough times and suffered to make 3 putts.

Also, on the 17th here the green is elevated, he got his ball on the upper level, he said, "that has no breaks too, it was another bullet train", which he made 3 putt for bogey.

But on the final 18th, he made the uphill 3-meter birdie putt to end the day with a smile. 1 shot lead against Shugo Imahira.

Ho-Sung Choi has won the Casio World Open, his 2nd Tour victory, in the tough windy condition.
"Tomorrow will be another tough mental game. I will do my best."

Ho-Sung Choi is well known in the golf world with his "fishing swing" and dancing performances after the shot. His nickname "Tora-san" means tiger, from one of Chinese character in his name.

Media asked about his nickname being same as Tiger Woods, but he shook his head really quick saying "Tiger is way above in the sky". But he started to write the Chinese character "tiger" on his autographs.
"It's part of my autograph but it's hard to read so I have been practicing."

This autograph with "tiger" in it is Japan Tour limited. He somehow shouts "tiger" before writing the autograph, but that's his way.

Ho-Sung Choi's lip service didn't stop as well as the ocean winds. He kept on talking in Japanese, listing almost every phrases he knew.
"Today, play difficult. Good. I am fine. I will do my best. Please cheer for all of the players. Thank you very much. See you tomorrow."

It sounded perfect.
Will "Tora-san" be able to steal the spotlight tomorrow, and gain his 3rd Tour win?