Charley Hoffman wants to be clear about two things: he meant what he said on social media Friday night, and he has no intention of leaving the PGA Tour to play in a rival league.
Hoffman caused a stir when he chastised the USGA and the PGA Tour in a lengthy Instagram post in which he expressed dissatisfaction with a specific ruling, criticized how Tour pros are governed and treated, and, to top it off, claimed that these issues are one reason why players might leave to join a proposed Saudi-backed circuit.
“I think I explained it very well,” Hoffman said after shooting an 8-over 79 in the third round of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Saturday, falling to single 67th and last among the players who made the cut.
“It was obviously in the heat of the moment,” says the narrator “Hoffman went on to say. “I mean, there’s no doubt about that. However, when I told the rules official that I was finished with the ruling, they answered, ‘Oh, we’re working on it.’ ‘Well, this shouldn’t have taken X number of years from when Rickie [Fowler] had his accident at this event,’ I remarked. That’s not going to take care of it; there’s too much time in between.”
Hoffman is referring to Fowler’s misfortune in 2019, when his penalty drop on Sunday at the 11th hole rolled back into the water. According to Rules 9.3 and 18.2, Fowler was punished another shot, although he still won the tournament. Hoffman then made a similar drop on Friday at the 13th hole, but his penalty drop rolled down an embankment and splashed. He, too, received a stroke penalty.
“Can you tell me how that regulation is beneficial to the game of golf and how we play?” According to Hoffman. “I mean, no one at a country club would accept another penalty for that; so why are we doing it in professional golf?”
“Hoffman, who serves on the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council as one of four player directors, said he has spoken with both the USGA and the PGA Tour since his post went up. The PGA Tour, according to Hoffman, “rewards us by using social media… but they don’t appreciate it when you don’t say something that may not be up to their standard.”
But, according to Hoffman, his main purpose was to start a rules discussion — he remains confident that the regulation in question will be modified – not to use the Player Impact Program in any way.
And he has no intention of switching leagues anytime soon.
“There’s no way I’ve ever considered switching teams and playing for a rival. At any time, “According to Hoffman. “And if it appeared in that Instagram post that I had been contacted by them – which I had not been contacted by them – it was incorrect. That was added so the media would notice it and I could illustrate my point about the regulations.”
Hoffman continued: “I am a staunch supporter of the PGA Tour, and I have no plans to play in another league. It is, nevertheless, a serious danger.”
Hoffman stated that being the lightning rod was acceptable with him provided it meant constructive change.
“Hopefully, a little bit of difficulty for me going through this – I’m going to get a lot of junk – will improve the game,” Hoffman said. “And ideally, the PGA Tour, the policy board, and everyone gets together, and we keep everyone here, and we play the best game of golf in the world in the United States, and we have the top players play week in and week out here in the United States,” he says.
Hoffman then said the following to reporters as he wrapped off his interview with them: “Could I have done it behind closed doors, now that I think about it? Probably. However, this does not always work.”
