Kyoung-Ju "K.J." Choi has, quite literally, been put on a pedestal in his hometown of Wando in southwestern South Korea.

There, on a tip of land that jets out to the harbor overlooking the Korean Strait, stands life-size tall a bronze statue of the nation's foremost golfer in mid-swing.

At first the statue, and the parade that came with it, sufficed as a tribute to the island son who became the first from his country to make a name for himself on the PGA Tour.

With each rise in the 38-year-old Choi's career, each championship won, there has come a need to update the area's mounting pride. So it was decided to begin listing his championships at the base.

Now at seven PGA titles, they wait to see if this will be the week they can add another triumphant line following the Sony Open in Hawai'i.

As the first full (144-man) field event of the year opens today at Waialae Country Club with Choi as the defending champion, they await the scores in Wando — a town of, maybe, 50,000 inhabitants — with renewed anticipation.

Last year the vigil was such that nearly a dozen of his yellow-clad faithful made it to Honolulu in time to have breakfast with their hero and then see the crowning day of his wire-to-wire title, a 14-under 266.

It was a triumph that this son of a fisherman/seaweed farmer shared, coincidentally, with celebrations marking the 105th anniversary of Korean immigration to Hawai'i. The other day Choi was asked if he'd be on hand again to help mark festivities for the 106th anniversary.

Small wonder, perhaps, that Choi said, "Yeah, this place is very special for me. For some reason, I come here and I feel very at home and very relaxed and comfortable. It's just something about this place; not only the affinity to my culture, but also just the people and the whole environment that makes me very relaxed."

In Korea, Choi says, "I have a lot of fans ... who are supporting me right now and without their support, I don't think I would be able to play that well."

When Choi first took up golf in high school, the sport was in its infancy in the area. He learned from a Jack Nicklaus instruction book and videos. There was but one driving range. A real course was several hours away.

But Choi's mushrooming success — at least one PGA tournament victory in each of the last four years and nearly $19 million in career earnings — it is said, has helped popularize the sport in the area.

It turns out he has done more than serve as an inspiration and role model for young hopefuls. In a round about — and thoroughly unintended — way, Choi has also helped put clubs in the hands of his admirers.

Or, as his agent, Michael Yim, says, "It is kind of funny but the driver (Choi is hitting with) on the statue keeps disappearing."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.