Five things to know: Sherwood Country Club

Blimp pilot suffers burns in crash at U.S. Open

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR announced today that TOUR member Morgan Hoffmann, who was diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 27 with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD), has been named the recipient of the PGA TOUR Courage Award. The PGA TOUR Courage Award is presented to a player who, through courage and perseverance, has overcome extraordinary adversity, such as personal tragedy or debilitating injury or illness, to make a significant and meaningful contribution to the game of golf. Introduced in 2012, Hoffmann is the fourth recipient of the PGA TOUR Courage Award, joining Erik Compton (2013), Jarrod Lyle (2015) and Gene Sauers (2017). Related: Hoffmann beginning to write next chapter after muscular dystrophy diagnosis Soon after going public with his condition, Hoffmann and his fiancée Chelsea (now wife) launched the Morgan Hoffmann Foundation in 2017. Since then, Hoffmann, now 30, has made it his goal to find a cure and become a role model for those affected by muscular dystrophy and similar neuromuscular diseases. To fulfil its mission, the Morgan Hoffmann Foundation plans to build a health and wellness center to help others gain the strength to pursue their dreams. “It was a devastating blow to all of us in the golf world to learn of Morgan’s diagnosis,� said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “It is also a true testament to Morgan’s character, that in the wake of receiving the life-changing news in the prime of his career, he established the Morgan Hoffmann Foundation to help others afflicted with MD. Morgan’s words are simply amazing and inspiring: ‘I don’t play golf for myself anymore, I play for everyone who has muscular dystrophy in any shape and form.’ The PGA TOUR family continues to cheer for Morgan – louder than ever.� After an All-America collegiate career at Oklahoma State, Hoffmann joined the PGA TOUR in 2013 and qualified for the TOUR Championship in his second season on TOUR in 2013-14. For the next several seasons, Hoffmann competed while quietly battling the uncertainty of his health. Despite living an active lifestyle, he left over 25 doctors across the country dumbfounded and without any answers or insight into his condition. After visiting a neurologist in New York City, he was diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) in late 2016. “To be recognized alongside the past recipients of the PGA TOUR Courage Award is very humbling,� said Hoffmann. “Playing on the PGA TOUR with muscular dystrophy, I hope to inspire people to follow their dreams, no matter what ailments they have, whether it be a disease or a mental disability. I’ll accept this award with gratitude, and the PGA TOUR’s support will go a long way to helping our Foundation make a change in people’s lives.� The Courage Award includes a $25,000 charitable contribution to a charity of the award recipient’s choice. The award, along with the $25,000 donation, will formally be presented to Hoffmann at the Morgan Hoffmann Foundation Celebrity Pro-Am (June 21-22) at the New Jersey native’s home course, Arcola Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. Last year’s two-day event raised more than $1 million for the Morgan Hoffmann Foundation. “There are so many people who have supported me through this incredible journey, but I want to thank my wife, Chelsea, who has been my rock and with me every step of the way,� Hoffmann said. “After my diagnosis, Chelsea didn’t bat an eye and the Foundation would not be here without her. I couldn’t have asked for anything more meaningful in my life than to have that support to go through this with.� Hoffmann is in season two of a Major Medical Extension, granted after being limited to nine events in 2017-18 due to his condition. He played 11 events in 2018-19 and four in 2019-20, with three starts remaining.

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Tiger Woods has arrived at Southern Hills. Woods made his latest competitive comeback at last month’s Masters, after suffering severe injuries to both legs in a single-car accident in February 2021. While he never made a formal announcement about his intention to play this week’s PGA Championship, he did make an early scouting trip to Southern Hills and his name appeared in each field list released by the PGA of America. He’s now on the grounds, the site of his 2007 PGA Championship triumph, which marked his 13th of 15 major championship titles. “I’ve gotten a lot stronger since the Masters,” Woods told Golfweek as he traversed the front nine at Southern Hills on Sunday, with temperatures hovering around and above 90 degrees. “We went back to work on Tuesday (after the Masters). Monday was awful; I did nothing and Tuesday was leg day. “So we went right back after it. Everything is better.” According to Golfweek’s report, Woods spent considerable focus on and around the greens during his practice session; Southern Hills’ contoured green complexes are expected to sternly test the 156-player PGA Championship field. The course underwent a dramatic Gil Hanse renovation since last hosting the PGA 15 years ago. Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported that Woods’ swing speed appeared robust, including a 358-yard drive at the par-4 second hole. Woods played the front nine at Southern Hills on Sunday; he was joined by Gary Woodland on No. 5. “Hundred percent I see him stronger,” added caddie Joe LaCava in a session with reporters. “I just think the endurance is there now. I don’t think he’s getting quite as tired as quickly. “Other than the fact that he won here in 2007, I think it’s the stamina and endurance thing that excites him the most.” Woods thrilled fans with an opening-round 71 in his competitive return at the Masters, his first round on TOUR since the (November) 2020 Masters. His endurance appeared to wane throughout the week; he followed with rounds of 74-78-78, finishing in 47th place. But he made the cut and successfully walked 72 holes at Augusta National. In his post-round remarks that Sunday, he committed to competing at the Open Championship at St Andrews in July. He proceeded with caution as to the PGA Championship. Now he’s set to proceed into competition. “Am I ever going to have full mobility? No. Never again,” Woods said Sunday at Southern Hills. “But I’ll be able to get stronger. It’s going to ache, but that’s the way it’s going to be. “I’m excited about (the week). I’m not going to play that much going forward, so anytime I do play, it’s going to be fun to play and to compete. There are only so many money games you can play at home.”

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