Hosung Choi and his swing the talk of the golfing world

Bubba Watson won the Travelers Championship for the third time this weekend, but all golf fans really cared about this week was Hosung Choi and his unorthodox swing.

There are many different swings among professional golfers, but only one of them mattered this weekend. That is when the world became introduced to Korean golfer Hosung Choi.

Choi was playing in the Korean Open this past week when social media got word of his, lets just say, unique swing. His one-footed follow-through and theatrics left fans fascinated, and maybe even a little confused. After all, this is a type of swing you would most likely see an amateur make on a municipal course.

Choi was not only using it in a professional tournament, he was actually in contention. He began the final round just two shots off the lead before finishing tied for fifth. He even tied with Kevin Na, a past PGA Tour winner.

This type of swing is known as a “fisherman swing” in Korea, and it has to be seen to be believed. Choi finishes his follow-through off-balance, with his right foot falling away to the side. “Swing your swing. Not some idea of a swing, not a swing you saw on TV, or wing you wish you had. No, swing your swing,” Arnold Palmer famously said. Choi takes these words to heart.

https://twitter.com/GolfBetter2son/status/1010525390123593729

Even on the greens Choi is theatrical, using body language to will the ball into the hole. Needless to say, Choi’s antics dominated coverage of the event. Even Web.com Tour players took turns trying out Choi’s swing on the practice range.

The Korean Open is part of the qualifying series for the Open Championship. The top two players gained entry into the Open. By finishing in fifth, Choi missed out on a trip to Carnoustie. But there is already a petition on Change.org to have the R&A award him a special exemption.

The 44-year-old Choi plays primarily on the Korean and Japanese tours. He has one career win on both tours and is currently 500th on the Official World Golf Rankings.

Min-chul Choi won the tournament at 12-under, seven shots better than Choi. But fans were so awestruck by Choi’s swing they hardly noticed.