Scott Hoch

Last updated
Scott Hoch
Personal information
Full nameScott Mabon Hoch
Born (1955-11-24) November 24, 1955 (age 68)
Raleigh, North Carolina
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st)
Sporting nationalityFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Residence Orlando, Florida
Career
College Wake Forest University
Turned professional1979
Current tour(s) PGA Tour Champions
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
Professional wins23
Highest ranking 11 (April 6, 1997) [1]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour11
European Tour1
Japan Golf Tour3
PGA Tour Champions4
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament 2nd: 1989
PGA Championship T3: 1987
U.S. Open T5: 1993, 2002
The Open Championship T8: 2002
Achievements and awards
Byron Nelson Award 1986
Vardon Trophy 1986

Scott Mabon Hoch (born November 24, 1955) is an American professional golfer, who represented his country in the Ryder Cup in 1997 and 2002.

Contents

Early life

Hoch was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. While attending Needham B. Broughton High School, he won the 1973 NCHSAA Men's Golf State Championship.

Amateur career

Hoch was a member of the golf team at Wake Forest University before graduating in 1978. In 1978, Hoch reached the final of the U.S. Amateur, losing 5 & 4 to John Cook. [2] His good play earned him membership for top international team competitions like the 1978 Eisenhower Trophy and the 1979 Walker Cup. The Americans won both events. His achievements in 1978 led to an invitation to the 1979 Masters Tournament where he tied for 34th place, the second low amateur only behind Bobby Clampett.

Professional career

Hoch turned professional in 1979 after competing in the U.S. Amateur.

Hoch has won several tournaments, including the Western Open, the Ford Championship at Doral, the Heineken Dutch Open and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. He also won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average in 1986. He has featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Hoch is widely known for missing a two-foot-long putt that would have won the 1989 Masters Tournament on the first playoff hole, which he lost to Nick Faldo on the next hole. [3] At the 1987 PGA Championship, Hoch three-putted the 18th hole on Sunday from inside of ten feet. A two-putt would have secured a playoff spot for him.

Hoch is also well known for his infamous quote regarding playing in The Open Championship at the "home of golf" at St Andrews. Hoch referred to this course, considered hallowed ground by most golfers around the world, as "the worst piece of mess" he had ever seen. [4] Partly due to his Open Championship criticism Hoch has been characterized as an "ugly American." However he has played extensively abroad and done fairly well, with three victories on the Japan Golf Tour, a victory at European Tour's 1995 Dutch Open, and multiple victories on the Korean Tour. [5] He also has runner-up finishes at the 1987 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, 1994 Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour, [6] 1995 New Zealand Open on the Australasian Tour, and the 1996 Dutch Open.

Hoch is the rare American golfer who has criticized the Ryder Cup. Before his participation in the 2002 event he described the Ryder Cup as "overrated" and thought that the competition had gotten too "inflammatory." [7]

Senior career

In May 2007, Hoch won his first Champions Tour event, the FedEx Kinko's Classic. In February 2008, he won his second and third events in consecutive weeks.

In April 2019, Hoch won at the age of 63 the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf with Tom Pernice Jr. This first win in 11 years made him the oldest winner on the Champions Tour. [8] Hoch's record held until October 2021, when Bernhard Langer broke it at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

Personal life

In 1982, Hoch said that he feared he was going to die after an intruder came into his hotel room in Tucson, Arizona, held him and his wife, Sally, at gunpoint, and tied them up for an hour. [9]

In 1989, Hoch said that he was "really hurt" after being named "Least Popular Golfer" in a poll of Tour players conducted by the Dallas Times Herald . [9]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (23)

PGA Tour wins (11)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Jul 20, 1980 Quad Cities Open −14 (63-66-68-69=266)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Curtis Strange
2Apr 25, 1982 USF&G Classic −10 (67-69-70=206)*2 strokes Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bob Shearer, Flag of the United States.svg Tom Watson
3Jul 22, 1984 Miller High Life QCO −14 (67-67-66-66=266)5 strokes Flag of the United States.svg George Archer, Flag of the United States.svg Vance Heafner,
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Stockton
4Apr 30, 1989 Las Vegas Invitational −24 (69-64-68-65-70=336)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Robert Wrenn
5Feb 20, 1994 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic −26 (66-62-70-66-70=334)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Lennie Clements, Flag of the United States.svg Jim Gallagher Jr.,
Flag of the United States.svg Fuzzy Zoeller
6Sep 3, 1995 Greater Milwaukee Open −15 (68-71-65-65=269)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Marco Dawson
7Jul 14, 1996 Michelob Championship at Kingsmill −19 (64-68-66-67=265)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Tom Purtzer
8Aug 31, 1997 Greater Milwaukee Open (2)−16 (70-66-66-66=268)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Loren Roberts, Flag of the United States.svg David Sutherland
9Apr 29, 2001 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic −16 (68-68-67-69=272)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Brett Quigley, Flag of the United States.svg Scott Simpson
10Jul 8, 2001 Advil Western Open −21 (69-68-66-64=267)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Davis Love III
11Mar 9, 2003 Ford Championship at Doral −17 (66-70-66-69=271)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Jim Furyk

*Note: The 1982 USF&G Classic was shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

PGA Tour playoff record (2–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1989 Masters Tournament Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo Lost to birdie on second extra hole
21989 Las Vegas Invitational Flag of the United States.svg Robert Wrenn Won with birdie on fifth extra hole
3 1995 Shell Houston Open Flag of the United States.svg Payne Stewart Lost to par on first extra hole
4 2003 Ford Championship at Doral Flag of the United States.svg Jim Furyk Won with birdie on third extra hole

European Tour wins (1)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runners-up
1Jul 30, 1995 Heineken Dutch Open −15 (65-70-69-65=269)2 strokes Flag of Sweden.svg Michael Jonzon, Flag of Scotland.svg Sam Torrance

European Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1989 Masters Tournament Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo Lost to birdie on second extra hole

PGA of Japan Tour wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Nov 14, 1982 Taiheiyo Club Masters −10 (73-70-66-69=278)3 strokes Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Masahiro Kuramoto
2Nov 28, 1982 Casio World Open −6 (72-71-69-70=282)1 stroke Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Tsuneyuki Nakajima
3Nov 30, 1986 Casio World Open (2)−12 (67-72-68-69=276)6 strokes Flag of Spain.svg José María Olazábal

PGA of Japan Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 1985 Casio World Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Grady, Flag of the United States.svg Hubert Green,
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Nobumitsu Yuhara
Green won with par on second extra hole
Grady and Yuhara eliminated by par on first hole

Korean Tour wins (2)

Other wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runners-up
1Dec 14, 1986 Chrysler Team Championship
(with Flag of the United States.svg Gary Hallberg)
−32 (61-63-64-63=251)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Mike Hulbert and Flag of the United States.svg Bob Tway
2Dec 14, 2008 Merrill Lynch Shootout
(with Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Perry)
−31 (65-60-60=185)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg J. B. Holmes and Flag of the United States.svg Boo Weekley

Other playoff record (0–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
11985 Chrysler Team Championship
(with Flag of the United States.svg Gary Hallberg)
Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Bolling and Flag of the United States.svg Brad Fabel,
Flag of the United States.svg Jim Colbert and Flag of the United States.svg Tom Purtzer,
Flag of the United States.svg Raymond Floyd and Flag of the United States.svg Hal Sutton,
Flag of the United States.svg John Fought and Flag of the United States.svg Pat McGowan
Floyd/Sutton won with birdie on first extra hole
22000 Franklin Templeton Shootout
(with Flag of Paraguay (1990-2013).svg Carlos Franco)
Flag of the United States.svg Brad Faxon and Flag of the United States.svg Scott McCarron Lost to birdie on first extra hole

PGA Tour Champions wins (4)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1May 6, 2007 FedEx Kinko's Classic −15 (67-66-68=201)2 strokes Flag of the United States.svg D. A. Weibring
2Feb 10, 2008 Allianz Championship −14 (67-67-68=202)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Brad Bryant, Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Lietzke
3Feb 17, 2008 ACE Group Classic −14 (68-66-68=202)Playoff Flag of the United States.svg Brad Bryant, Flag of the United States.svg Tom Jenkins,
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Kite
4Apr 28, 2019 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf
(with Flag of the United States.svg Tom Pernice Jr.)
−23 (62-48-46=156)5 strokes Flag of England.svg Paul Broadhurst and Flag of the United States.svg Kirk Triplett,
Flag of Paraguay.svg Carlos Franco and Flag of Fiji.svg Vijay Singh

PGA Tour Champions playoff record (1–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 2008 ACE Group Classic Flag of the United States.svg Brad Bryant, Flag of the United States.svg Tom Jenkins,
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Kite
Won with birdie on first extra hole
2 2011 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf
(with Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Perry)
Flag of the United States.svg David Eger and Flag of Ireland.svg Mark McNulty Lost to par on second extra hole

Results in major championships

Tournament19751976197719781979
Masters Tournament T34
U.S. Open CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
Tournament1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
Masters Tournament T37T27T53CUT2
U.S. Open CUTWDT48T34T36T21T13
The Open Championship
PGA Championship CUTCUTT61T48T12T41T3T25T7
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
Masters Tournament T14T35CUTT7T538T16T44
U.S. Open T86CUTT5T13T56T7T10CUTCUT
The Open Championship CUTT68CUT
PGA Championship T49T43CUTT6CUTCUTT61T6T29T21
Tournament20002001200220032004
Masters Tournament CUTT37CUTCUT
U.S. Open T16T16T5CUTT53
The Open Championship CUTT8
PGA Championship T74T7CUTT57WD
  Top 10
  Did not play

WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament 0102351813
U.S. Open 00026112316
The Open Championship 00001152
PGA Championship 0011582417
Totals011515257048

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament198119821983198419851986198719881989
The Players Championship T37T13CUTT44CUTT14T39CUTCUT
Tournament1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
The Players Championship WDCUTCUTCUTWDT192T5T6
Tournament20002001200220032004
The Players Championship T13T7T4T42
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament199920002001200220032004
Match Play R32QFR64QFR64
Championship T7T17NT1T23T70
Invitational T23T21T55T51

1Cancelled due to 9/11

  Top 10
  Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
NT = No tournament

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

Professional

See also

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References

  1. "Week 14 1997 Ending 6 Apr 1997" (pdf). OWGR . Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  2. "Cook wins title over Scott Hoch". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. September 4, 1978. p. 3C.
  3. Gregory, Sean (April 9, 2008). "Hoch the Choke, 1989". Time . Archived from the original on April 14, 2008.
  4. Morfit, Cameron (January 17, 2007). "Scott Hoch Speaks Candidly About Tiger, CBS and Frank Chirkinian". Golf Magazine. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011.
  5. Shipnuck, Alan (July 16, 2001). "He's Got a Shot Scott Hoch, the last man you'd expect to take the British Open, moved into the ranks of the contenders with his Western win". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  6. "Scott Hoch – 1994". Official World Golf Ranking.
  7. Ferguson, Doug (September 24, 2002). "Scott Hoch Gets Ryder Cup Attention". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  8. Strege, John (April 28, 2019). "Scott Hoch, 63, becomes oldest senior tour winner, teams with Tom Pernice to win Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf". Golf Digest. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Reilly, Rick (June 12, 1989). "Hoch As...in Choke". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 17, 2012.