SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Tom Hoge got his work in on the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course driving range less than 24 hours after being handed the crystal glass trophy for winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.
The 32-year-old Hoge, from North Dakota, won his first PGA Tour event on Sunday after being one of seven golfers with at least a share of the lead during the final round. Over his last five tournaments, he’s finished in the top five three times and not made the cut in the other two.
After about six or seven hours of sleep, it was time to fly to Arizona to see if he can continue his recent run of success at the WM Phoenix Open this week.
“I’ve been playing well and I want to get back out and capitalize on it,” Hoge said. “Kind of ride off this run that I’ve been playing well, and just get a little bit of practice in, try to get back into a little more a routine here this week.”
Hoge said the celebration of his Pebble Beach victory was “nothing special.” He’s staying with his mother this week, and brought the trophy to her home for her to see it.
The Pebble Beach trophy is on the kitchen table, he said.
Tom Hoge practices on the driving range during the first day of the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Photo: Michael Chow-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Beyond that, he’s received many congratulatory calls and text messages, noting that he believes he’s only the fourth person from North Dakota ever to win on the PGA Tour.
“Just trying to battle, and it’s that cliché, one shot at a time. But that’s really what it comes down to, is how well you can focus and execute each shot, and get a few good breaks out there,” Hoge said.
He’s excited to play in front of a full complement of fans after WM Phoenix Open attendance was limited due to the pandemic last year,
“That excitement that we get from this week, I think we don’t it anywhere else on Tour,” Hoge said. “So it’s fun to be back here for that.
Hoge spent a couple of weeks in the area before the PGA Tour event in Hawaii in mid-January, and got some practice rounds in at TPC Scottsdale and Grayhawk Golf Club while here.
“I would say I’ve gotten a little bit better in every area,” Hoge said when asked what part of his game has improved significantly. “I guess just getting older, being in those (leaderboard) positions a lot, I’ve just learned a little bit how to manage myself better out there, and it’s seemed to pay off.”
Free admission
The week of events at the WM Phoenix Open began Monday, and golf fans took advantage of free admission to see players get in a practice round on the famous course, watch the Carlisle Pro-Am on the course and roar their approval of good shots at the notorious 16th hole, which is built out to its familiar stadium look with attendance back to full-go after being limited due to the pandemic last year.
Free admission, sponsored by Arizona Ford Dealers, continues on Tuesday. The PGA Tour pro with the combined closest-to-the-pin tee shots at 16 after Thursday’s and Friday’s rounds will be declared the Ford Drive One for Arizona Charities contest winner, and $10,000 will go to a local charity of his choice.
Charities from which a Tour player may choose to play for include: Chicanos Por la Causa, Care Fund, Valleywise Health Foundation, Arizona Humane Society, St. Mary’s Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House of Phoenix, JDRF, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and Salvation Army.
Phelps, Rodgers, Buehler in Pro-Am
More celebrities and well-known athletes were added to the list of those taking part in the Annexus Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open on Wednesday.
Multi-time gold medalist Michael Phelps. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler, actor Josh Duhamel and former USC and NFL football star Reggie Bush are scheduled to take part.
This will be Phelps’ sixth straight year taking part. Bush is set for his third appearance.
Others already in the field include former Arizona Cardinals great Larry Fitzgerald, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, former Cardinal Patrick Peterson, actor-comedian Rob Riggle, former MLB pitcher CC Sabathia and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen.
Three punch tickets via qualifying
Ben Silverman, Etienne Papineau and Jeffrey Kang each earned a spot in the WM Phoenix Open via qualifying at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale Monday.
Silverman fired a 6-under 66 to lead the way. Papineau and Kang were the two golfers who emerged from a six-player playoff for the two remaining Open spots.