Choi Woon-jeong: Mother Golfer’s Comeback & Family Support

“I am truly grateful for my husband’s consideration and support as they were the driving force behind my return. I want to tell my child that I will do my best to become a proud mother.”

It wasn’t an easy choice, but he said he didn’t realize how difficult the hard training was when he thought about his family watching over him. ‘Mom golfer’ Choi Woon-jeong (35, Volvik) is returning to the U.S. Women’s Professional Golf Tour after being away for two years to give birth and raise children.

Choi Woon-jeong was famous for her nickname ‘Orange Girl’. It got its name from mainly using color balls from main sponsor Volvik. After winning the 2015 Marathon Classic, she married a judge four years her senior on December 12, 2021, and then applied for parental leave from the LPGA, ending with the Evian Championship in August 2023. After giving birth to a son in March of last year and concentrating on raising children, she will begin competing full-time in the 2026 season.

Choi Woon-jeong, who is currently concentrating on winter training in Jacksonville, Florida, where his U.S. home is located, said, “The two years I was away on tour seem to have passed quickly like a dream. These days, I just feel like I’m preparing for the new season with excitement, just like I’ve done for the past dozen years.”

Adults often say that children only become mature when they become mothers and fathers. I wonder if Choi Woon-jung was like that. He says he feels like he has grown while raising his son (Cha Si-heon), who will turn two years old in March next year. “While raising a child, I often give my child encouragement, consolation, or praise, such as ‘It’s okay, you’re doing well.’ At the same time, I think the change through my child is that I have become more lenient towards myself, who used to bully myself when I was an athlete.”

There are many women in Korea whose careers are interrupted after marriage and childbirth. This is because it is not easy to combine housework and work. The path to becoming a ‘mom golfer’ doesn’t seem to be easy. Choi Woon-jung expressed her gratitude, saying, “It seems difficult to balance professional life and childcare. After confirming my return to the tour, I am living almost an athlete’s schedule, so my husband devotes a lot of time to childcare.” He also said, “I feel sorry for the child, but as a mother, I think I will have to spend a lot of time raising children. I plan to concentrate on my tour life while relying on my husband and both parents.”

The U.S. LPGA Tour’s strong support policy for mother golfers is also a big help. If there had not been a system that guaranteed seeding for two years immediately after giving birth, Choi Woon-jung might have ended her career as a player. Choi Woon-jeong explained, “I know that even if you bring your child to the competition venue, they take care of the child to the extent that it does not interfere with the game schedule. As the LPGA’s policy on mother golfers continues to be upgraded, it seems that the number of mother golfers may increase.”

Among the Korean players currently playing on the U.S. LPGA tour, Choi Woon-jung is the only mother golfer. In the past, Hee-won Han and Hee-young Park also played as mother golfers. Inbee Park is on long-term parental leave after giving birth to two daughters. On the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour, Ahn Seon-ju and Park Ju-young are active as mother golfers. Park Joo-young won her first win 14 years after her debut at the 2023 KLPGA Tour Daebo House D Open, creating a touching scene as she lifted the championship trophy while her son watched.

Next year, Choi Woon-jung turns 36. As an athlete, especially a professional tour golfer who travels throughout the United States and parts of Asia, I have to overcome various handicaps and compete with players in their early 20s. Still, Choi Woon-jeong emphasizes that fighting with oneself is important. “There are more young players, but since the one-year tour period is not short, I am worried about managing my physical strength. I am practicing mainly short games ahead of the season.”

Choi Un-jung is expected to receive support on the tour from her father and older sister, who were former police officers and served as her caddy. My husband and son, who are currently staying in the United States, plan to return to Korea soon and reunite briefly during their vacation.

Unjeong Choi did not forget to express his gratitude for the support of Volvik, with whom he had a long-standing relationship. “Volvik gave me a lot of help, both materially and spiritually, in my return as a player after a gap of more than two years. I want to repay you with a positive performance.”

Choi Un-jeong signed a sponsorship contract with Volvik in 2012 and has been receiving support for nearly 15 years. A Volvik official said, “Woonjung Choi is Volvik’s representative franchise player. We are confident that she will make a successful comeback as a mother golfer with her unique competitive spirit. We will spare no effort to support Woonjung Choi, who has further raised the status of the Volvik brand in the U.S. and on the global stage, so that she can stand in front of fans in a healthier state next year.”

Choi Woon-jeong was a symbol of perseverance and sincerity during his active years. Her first win on the LPGA Tour was a valuable achievement after her 157th attempt. In 2013, she participated in all 31 LPGA tour tournaments, and the following year, she missed only one game out of 32 tournaments, so much so that if there was a perfect attendance award locally, it was introduced as Choi Woon-jung.

In 2014, he became the first Korean player to receive the ‘William and Mausey Powell Award’, an exemplary award chosen by players. She was an evangelist for K-food who promoted Korean culture by inviting foreign players and serving them Korean food such as ribs and japchae whenever an LPGA tour tournament was held in Korea.

Woonjung Choi now begins another journey with a new name, ‘Mom Golfer.’ With the love and support of my family, I took up the club again to become a proud mother to my child. Her return is not a simple re-challenge, but a new beginning with a deeper burden of life and love.

Kim Jong-seok, Deputy Director of Channel A Sports Department (former Sports Department Manager of Dong-A Ilbo)

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