Tom Hoge, Ready To Win On The PGA Tour

Tom Hoge (hoagie) takes dead aim at the flagstick in the back right corner of the green. He hits a high soft cut with a six iron, finishing eight feet left of the hole. Shortly he walks off the green having made birdie. Three holes later he hits an eight iron into the front left corner moving the ball this time from right to left. Another birdie. He’s on the way to a good round.

“He’s not afraid to hit shots at pins into the corners of greens,” said his agent Jim Lehman. At 32 years of age Tom is just starting his eighth year on the PGA Tour. The Fargo, ND native and TCU graduate has been climbing the Fed Ex Cup points list steadily each year, finishing at number 54 in 2021.  “He’s a midwestern guy with midwestern values,” said Jim.

He has been a winner in the past. He won on the Korn Ferry Tour, was the two time Minnesota State Amateur Champion, and the 72 hole medalist at the Western Amateur. “However, no one considered him to be a PGA Tour quality player,” said Jim.

Married to wife Kelly in 2017, a Division 1 college player herself, it coincided with his improved play. “I changed coaches about that time also,” said Tom with a wry smile. Some would argue it was getting married.

Part of the reason he has improved is managing rounds better. “He tends to be a risk taker,” said Jim. “When the risk works, he is rewarded, but when it doesn’t there can be consequences. However, because of his intellect and confidence he is rewarded more often than not.”

“I feel like some of the reason I’ve gotten better is that I am playing up to my potential,” Tom said. “In past years I didn’t do that. I really don’t see players I think are better than I am.”

“I’m playing more with the percentages,” Tom told me. “For instance, the 17th hole at Liberty National (where the Northern Trust Tournament was held in 2021) is a 230 yard par three, with water on both sides. I played to the front of the green each round and played it one under for the tournament. There are places where pars aren’t going to kill you.” He may not have played the hole in such a manner in the past.

 Tom Hoge is about to become a PGA Tour winner. This unassuming nice guy has been operating under the radar taking advantage of the courses that suit his game. “He is a battler and is determined to be a great player,” said Jim.

His average driving distance is 297 yards, outside the top 100 drivers on tour. “The game has been moving to power,” Tom said. “The weeks I have a chance are cut in half because of the length of the courses. If one of the bombers drives it straight for a week, there is such a huge advantage in how close they get to the green. I played last fall with Cameron Champ, (one of the long drivers on tour). He was at least 50 yards past me every hole. When you’re that close to the green it’s hard to screw it up. I can finish fifth or tenth, but it’s hard for me to win on the long courses.”

“If you drive it like Rory (another long driver) and putt well, you win,” he said. “The iron game is not as important as it once was.”

“I’ve always been hard on myself. My caddie, Henry Diana, has helped me. I’m more accepting of bad shots. It’s about managing the misses. You have to have belief in yourself.”

It appears Tom has a balanced mental approach to the game. He does not use a sports psychologist. “I’ve known Tom for 11 years and have never heard him express negativity on the golf course,” said Jim. A golfer that has little or no negative self talk, believes in himself and is not intimidated by others, has a big advantage in the game. Tom Hoge checks all the boxes.

“My first goal every year is to make the Fed Ex Cup. I don’t like to set a goal of winning. You can play great and just have somebody play a little better,” he said. “My goal is to put four good rounds together. I play a lot of tournaments with three good rounds and one average round. I know I will have opportunities. You have to give yourself more chances on Sunday.”

Tom averages playing in 33 tournaments a year. Most players play about 25. “I have a hard time taking time off,” he said. “I like to play. I know that if I take a week off, all I’m going to do is go home and play golf. I might as well play for $1,000,000 out on tour as $40 at home.” 

A double major in finance and accounting at TCU, Tom is “one of the smartest guys on tour,” said Jim Lehman. “To have a double major, play division one golf and graduate in four years? That’s a very unusual student athlete. If he wasn’t on the PGA Tour he would be very successful in anything he did,” said Jim. 

“I’m interested in investments,” Tom said. “I enjoy doing research on companies. I’m really a conservative investor, index stuff and the like.”

“I am also interested in TCU athletics.”

Tom has been one of the big beneficiaries of the PGA Tour fall series. It’s a seven tournament run in the fall and is the start of the next PGA Tour year. Many of the top players prefer to not play the fall series and wait until the traditional start of the tour after the first of the year.

As a result there is an opportunity to establish a foothold on the Fed Ex Cup points list for the next year. Tom has taken full advantage, with good play including a fourth place finish in the RSM in November. “I love the tournaments in the fall. They seem more relaxed,” he said.

The new Saudi backed international golf tour has the attention of the PGA Tour.  “We play for so much money and with the new tour it’s only getting bigger. I’ve made over $8,000,000 and I haven’t won! Just give me five more years out here!” With good play Tom will be able to take advantage of the larger purses forced on the PGA Tour by the new tour.

At 32 Tom Hoge is ready to become a big name on the PGA Tour. Historically players are at the peak of their careers in their late 20’s to late 30’s. I believe this 32 year old good guy will be a winner on the PGA Tour in A Life In Golf.