Wi Chang-soo (; born 3 January 1972), commonly known as Charlie Wi, is a South Korean professional golfer who currently plays on PGA Tour Champions. He previously played on the PGA Tour, European Tour, Asian Tour and the Korean Tour. He was a one-time winner on the European Tour and a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour.
Early life and amateur career Wi was born in Seoul, and moved to Los Angeles, United States at the age of 10. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, after briefly attending the University of Nevada, Reno and had a successful amateur career.
Professional career Wi turned professional in 1995. Early in his career, Wi played all over the world, competing on the European, Asian and Japanese tours. He had most success on the Asian Tour where he finished second on the money list in 2001, just behind Thongchai Jaidee, having won three times during the season.
Wi earned his place on the PGA Tour for 2005 when he successfully negotiated all three stages of the 2004 qualifying school. However, he did not do well enough in his rookie season to retain his card, and went back to play on the Asian Tour in 2006, finishing 4th on the money list. He also competed on the second tier Nationwide Tour, before returning to qualifying school where he regained his place on the PGA Tour for 2007.
In February 2006, Wi secured the biggest win of his career, when he won the Maybank Malaysian Open, an event co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
In May 2011, Wi finished runner-up at a PGA Tour event for the fourth time in his career losing to David Toms at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Wi was seven strokes behind Toms at the halfway stage, but shot a 66 during the third round to take a one stroke lead into the final round. Wi held his lead until midway through the final round when Toms holed out from the fairway for an eagle and would eventually go on to lose by one stroke.
Wi finished as runner-up in February 2012 at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am after taking a three stroke 54 hole lead into the final round. He shot a final round 72 to finish at 15 under, but lost out by two strokes as Phil Mickelson came from six back to claim the title with an 8 under par round of 64. This marked the fifth occasion on which Wi had recorded a second-place finish on the PGA Tour in his career.
In April 2023, Wi finished second to Mark Hensby in the Invited Celebrity Classic on PGA Tour Champions in Irving, Texas. Wi qualified as an alternate into the tournament but ended up losing on the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff after hitting his ball in the water.
Swing style Wi's golf swing style fits the model known as stack and tilt, and he helped to choose this name.Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer with Peter Morrice, "The Stack and Tilt Swing. The definitive Guide to the Swing that is remaking Golf" (), page XIV He is coached since 2005 by Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, who consider him the best example of their swing model:
Wi does not transfer body weight to the trail leg on back swing but moves the weight forward during the whole swing, even with the driver. He performs a steep shoulder turn around a steady axis.
Amateur wins 1990 California State Amateur 1995 Southern California Amateur
Professional wins (9) European Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up119 Feb 2006Maybank Malaysian Open1−19 (66-68-63=197)1 stroke Thongchai Jaidee 1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
Asian Tour wins (7) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up121 Sep 1997Mild Seven Kuala Lumpur Open−11 (67-73-69-68=277)4 strokes Lu Wen-teh, Zhang Lianwei220 May 2001SK Telecom Open1−7 (69-72-69-71=281)Playoff Kang Wook-soon, Simon Yates323 Sep 2001Shinhan Donghae Open1−12 (66-70-70-70=276)1 stroke Vivek Bhandari, Yang Yong-eun421 Oct 2001Volvo China Open−16 (68-67-69-68=272)1 stroke Thongchai Jaidee528 Apr 2002SK Telecom Open1 (2)−16 (67-69-67-69=272)2 strokes Kim Felton, Kevin Na626 Sep 2004Taiwan Open−4 (76-76-64-68=284)3 strokes Terry Pilkadaris718 Feb 2006Maybank Malaysian Open2−19 (66-68-63=197)1 stroke Thongchai Jaidee 1Co-sanctioned by the Korean Tour 2Co-sanctioned by the European Tour
Asian Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult12001SK Telecom Open Kang Wook-soon, Simon YatesWon with birdie on seventh extra holeYates eliminated by birdie on fifth hole
Korean Tour wins (5) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up120 May 2001SK Telecom Open1−7 (69-72-69-71=281)Playoff Kang Wook-soon, Simon Yates223 Sep 2001Shinhan Donghae Open1−12 (66-70-70-70=276)1 stroke Vivek Bhandari, Yang Yong-eun328 Apr 2002SK Telecom Open1 (2)−16 (67-69-67-69=272)2 strokes Kim Felton, Kevin Na46 Jun 2004Pocari Energy Open−11 (69-70-74-64=277)3 strokes Choi Yoon-soo523 Oct 2005GS Caltex Masters−11 (67-73-71-66=277)8 strokes Choi Gwang-soo 1Co-sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour
Korean Tour playoff record (1–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult12001SK Telecom Open Kang Wook-soon, Simon YatesWon with birdie on seventh extra holeYates eliminated by birdie on fifth hole
Playoff record PGA Tour Champions playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12023Invited Celebrity Classic Mark HensbyLost to par on fourth extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012U.S. OpenCUTT29The Open ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipT9T56CUTCUTCUT
CUT = missed the half way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place. Note: Wi never played in the Masters Tournament.
Results in The Players Championship Tournament2008200920102011201220132014The Players ChampionshipT63CUTCUTT41T25T55CUT CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships Tournament2002Match PlayChampionshipInvitationalT63
"T" = Tied
Team appearances Professional Dynasty Cup (representing Asia): 2003 (winners) World Cup (representing South Korea): 2006, 2009 Royal Trophy (representing Asia): 2009 (winners), 2010
See also 2004 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 2006 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates List of golfers with most Asian Tour wins
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