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!”
COURSE RECORD @THEPLAYERSChamp Fun day out there let’s keep it going tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/2Oxu3KtIDd
— Tom Hoge (@HogeGolf) March 12, 2023
Colt Knost and Roberto Castro, who shared the record prior to Saturday, both had interesting reactions to seeing Hoge’s final putt drop.
"NO!!!"
Colt Knost’s live reaction to his course record being broken is priceless
@ScottyGlf | @ColtKnost pic.twitter.com/hsA3HHkBXo — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2023
Others, including (but by no means limited to) Knost’s friend, Scott Harrington, were a lot more upbeat.
62 at sawgrass. Wild https://t.co/jNhgxZJmfd
— Nick Bujdos (@Bujdos94) March 12, 2023
A history-making round for @HogeGolf! Incredible.
https://t.co/qq3vciWib5 — Eide Bailly (@EideBaillyLLP) March 12, 2023
What a sick, sick course record to have. https://t.co/g137zuEvgv
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) March 12, 2023
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.
Hoge was at +3 with two holes to play when the cutline was still at +1.
Birdied 17 to get to +2.
Got into the weekend when the cut moved to +2.
Shoots 62.
Is now projected to make $759,375 this week
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) March 11, 2023
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]
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