‘It’s been surreal.’ Canadian golfer Albin Choi made it through the dark times. His career is on the rise again

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This article was published 05/11/2021 (1795 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rarely do people get a second chance to realize their dream. And if that opportunity does come along, you better not waste it.

Albin Choi is realizing this intimately.

Choi — formerly a top-five amateur in the world and celebrated all-American at North Carolina State University — stepped away from competitive golf at the end of 2019. But thanks to a lightning-in-a-bottle week while caddying on the PGA Tour for the first time that earned him the financial freedom to try playing again, he’s back notching the kind of results people always expected from him.

This fall Choi has been playing some of the best golf of his life. He’s more motivated than ever to keep the stretch alive, and for the Toronto native — and huge Drake fan — you can lean into a line from the hip-hop star’s “Weston Road Flows” to describe his golfing status: “Look in the mirror. I’m closer than I really appear.”

“I don’t know how to explain it,” says Choi. “It’s been surreal, almost, because I never knew I would have a chance to get back to final stage, or if I got a chance to play again.”

The 29-year-old already has already secured Korn Ferry Tour status thanks to finishing runner-up at both of his sites in the first and second stages of qualifying. A top-40 result this weekend in the final stage in Savannah, Ga. — he opened with a 2-over 72 on Thursday — would earn him guaranteed starts on golf’s Triple-A circuit in 2022.

“Golf’s been fun ever since I came back,” says Choi.

The 29-year-old had his first crack at the pro ranks in 2013. Choi played the RBC Canadian Open in 2012 as a fresh-faced 20-year-old and won low-amateur honours. Charl Schwartzel, who won the Masters in 2011 and played with Choi that summer in Hamilton, called him “hands down the best amateur I’ve played with by far.”

That success and the undeniable “he’s going places” feeling came about a year after Choi’s mother, Erica, took her own life while battling depression.

“He’s had real things that have gone on in his life,” multiple PGA Tour winner Max Homa said of Choi, “but he’s such a positive dude. He’s just one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.”

Choi’s positive attitude has helped carry him through some more dark times recently. After losing his status at the end of 2019, Choi was broke and he stopped playing competitive golf. Instead, he caddied at a posh private club in South Florida to make ends meet. In March of 2020, prior to the world getting turned around by COVID-19, he was on the bag for Sungjae Im when the reigning PGA Tour rookie of the year won the Honda Classic.

“I feel like I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, my game wasn’t where I wanted it to be and I just feel like everything was not going in my favour,” says Choi. “I thought a little break wouldn’t hurt.”

Choi caddied for Im for a few more events, but their on-course relationship ended after Im struggled coming out of the tour’s COVID-19 break.

Seeing the best in the world up close, however, got Choi motivated to start playing again.

When Homa won a tour event in Napa, Calif. in September, Choi posted on Twitter that Homa had reached out to him when he was struggled mentally. The crux of their conversation, Homa says now, was about sticking to the process.

“I saw him caddying for Sungjae and I know they won, but I was like, ‘Albin is really good too,’” says Homa with a laugh. “Golf is just difficult and not everyone’s path is particularly linear … 99 per cent of us have had some serious wayward moments.”

Mackenzie Hughes, who grew up playing against Choi in amateur events across Ontario and had Choi in his wedding party, knows as well as anyone about the wayward moments Homa mentioned. Hughes had a turbulent start to his pro career, but has since won on the PGA Tour and become a top-50 player in the world. He’s not surprised to see Choi play good golf these days but more important, he’s happy Choi is happy.

“I know there’s been times with him where he’s been in some dark places, so for him to be on the better side of that now, and having a lot more bright days than dark, that’s all you can really ask,” says Hughes.

“The game doesn’t owe anyone anything and it’s not always fair, or the way it’s supposed to be, but with Albin … he’s been through a lot, and it’s made him the person he is now.”

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Choi says he hasn’t done anything particularly different with his swing since returning to action. He’s gone back to basics, he says, with coach David Lee and has been taking better care of his body. His long-time girlfriend Alicia — who went to Toronto’s Northview Heights Secondary School with Choi — has been a steady influence as well.

While caddying was just a means to an end, Choi says, winning with Im afforded him that second chance. Im’s winner’s cheque was $1.26 million (U.S.) and Choi earned the standard 10 per cent, plus a little extra.

While there’s still some work to do to get to the PGA Tour, those who have been following him — such as Homa, Hughes and Golf Canada national team head coach Derek Ingram — say he’s turned a corner.

“He’s been a can’t-miss guy for 10 years and I’m just thrilled he’s stuck it out,” says Ingram. “A lot of people would have given up, but it’s his journey and he’s going to make it. I know he will.”

Adam Stanley is an Ottawa-based contributor to the Star’s Sports section and the host of golf podcast Next Round’s On Me. Follow him on Twitter: @adam_stanley