Golf world reacts to record-setting performance at Players Championship

Tom Hoge fired an opening round 78 in the first round of The Players Championship. He bounced back nicely on Friday, shooting a 68. That 68 allowed Hoge to make the cut. Hoge took full advantage of that on Saturday, making history at the famed TPC Sawgrass.

Saturday’s round at TPC Sawgrass was one that Hoge — and anyone else who watched it — will not soon forget.

Hoge was at peak form on Saturday. He came to the 18th hole at nine-under for his round, needing a par to tie the course record. Hoge went one better than that, though, making a birdie to break the course record with a 62.

Hoge tweeted out the video of his final putt, along with the caption “Fun day out there let’s keep it going tomorrow!”

Colt Knost and Roberto Castro, who shared the record prior to Saturday, both had interesting reactions to seeing Hoge’s final putt drop.

Others, including (but by no means limited to) Knost’s friend, Scott Harrington, were a lot more upbeat.

Hoge still has his work cut out for him. Even with his record-setting performance on Saturday, he heads into the final round tied for eighth place, six strokes back of Scottie Scheffler.

But even if the scoreboard remains unchanged, Hoge stands to make a heck of a lot more money than it looked like he’d make on Thursday, and even into Friday’s round.

And beyond the financial element, having the course record at Sawgrass will be a tremendous notch in Hoge’s belt for the rest of his career.

[Tom Hoge]