Las Vegas, Nev. (April 10, 2015)–First the good news: Former UNLV standout Charley Hoffman is in the hunt at the 2015 Masters, standing alone in second place with a two-day total of 9-under-par at famed Augusta National. Now the bad news: He’s five shots behind leader Jordan Spieth heading into the weekend. For Hoffman, the good far outweighs the potential bad as he plays the weekend in only his second Masters. –By Bill Bowman
Hoffman relishes his position and the whole experience. “I mean, I wish it wasn’t only my second Masters, but obviously I’m a little more mature than I was the first time around or even the young golfers that are playing now,” Hoffman told Masters.com. “I think what’s so great about this golf tournament is everybody sort of knows how the ball rolls when it gets to a certain spot and where you need to be. There’s definitely a certain mystique about it and hopefully I keep it going.”
Hoffman tied for 27th in 2011 in his first trip to the Masters, finishing off the four rounds in 1-under-par. Charl Schwartzel won that year with a 14-under-par total.
But it’s this Masters that has the former Rebel all smiles. He’s put together rounds of 67-68. If not for Spieth’s record-setting total of 64-66, Hoffman could be atop the leaderboard. As it is, he’s got a game plan for the weekend.
“I’m not going to catch (Jordan) in two holes,” Hoffman said. “Jordan’s playing great golf, so sometimes you get in the lead and you sort of maybe change your game plan a little bit. I just kept my game plan and just kept trying to make birdies, and I was able to do a pretty good job of that.”
He’ll be able to watch Spieth up-close on Saturday as they will be paired together in the final twosome. Hoffman was a member of UNLV’s 1998 NCAA Championship team and was an Honorable Mention All-American that year. He turned professional in 2000 and has three PGA Tour wins including this season’s OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Hoffman is looking to become the second golfer from UNLV to win the Masters. Adam Scott won the tournament in 2013.