Sentosa, Singapore, January 15: The name Hosung Choi is one that has captured the imagination of the social media world by storm.

Possessing one of golf’s wackiest and unconventional swings, the world has fallen so much in love with the Korean that there is even an online petition to get him an invitation to play at the Waste Management Phoenix Open which starts in the United States in a fortnight.

Choi is certainly not a circus act as his win at the Casio World Open in Japan propelled him into the top-200 on the Official World Golf Ranking last year. Earlier today, he received a sponsor invite to play in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February where he will make his PGA Tour debut.

We caught up with the 45-year-old who returns to Singapore for the SMBC Singapore Open this week to find out more about the man whom everyone has now come to know.

Q. There has been a chorus of voice championing for you to tee up at the Waste Management Phoenix Open so that fans can watch you live in action. Were you expecting a reaction as huge as this?

A. I’m really grateful and honoured I’ve got so many fans watching me from all over the world, especially in the United States now. I’m just an ordinary guy who happens to play golf for a living.

Q.  Your swing has been dubbed ‘The Fisherman Swing’. How did you get associated with this fishy business?

A. I need to survive! You know there are so many younger players who can hit the ball so much further and longer nowadays. I have to compete against them and I have to do something about my swing. So basically my swing is a self-taught one which I’ve adapted and constantly working on for optimum distance.

Q. But why ‘The Fisherman’?

A. There was a photographer from Golf Digest in Japan who has been following me at various tournaments for a long time. Each time he edits his photos of me, he had to think of a caption. Then he thought my swing reminds him of how a fisherman would throw his hook to get his catch and decided to call it that.

Q. And you are a social media celebrity now.

A. Yes! I’m still trying to adjust to this new-found status (laughs). I’m happy I’m able to provide the golf fans with so much entertainment and joy especially when it comes to watching me play.

Q. Do you think you can get your prized catch with the SMBC Singapore Open title this week?

A. I hope so! Serapong course is a long and demanding one. But with my swing now, I gain a little more distance and accuracy.

Q. Any hopes of getting your boys to become a professional golfer like you?

A. No. They are more interested in becoming musicians! Hopefully they can be as entertaining as me!

Ends.