Century-old words steel Spieth for New Year

For the record, Tom Hoge has seen the movie. And let’s be real. Isn’t that what you want to ask him when you find out he’s from Fargo, North Dakota? Yes, that Fargo. The city where Hoge grew up is the setting for the darkly comic 1996 crime film written and directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. The quirky movie, which stars William H. Macy and Frances McDormand, who won an Academy Award for her role, has become something of a cult classic. And no matter where he goes – Hoge now lives in Fort Worth, Texas – when he tells someone where he’s from the scenario is the same. “The first reaction is usually the movie, yes,â€� Hoge says with a wry smile. “And then the second statement is that I’m the first person they’ve ever met from North Dakota. “So I’m kind of ready for those two all the time.â€� Of course, with former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz leading the Philadelphia Eagles into the Super Bowl on Sunday, the  sports landscape is changing a bit. But he grew up in Bismark and the only movie by that name is a 1940 film about the prime minister of Prussia. So, it’s just not the same. That said, “Fargoâ€� wasn’t filmed in North Dakota’s most populous city. The movie was actually shot around Minneapolis-St. Paul and in the town of Brainerd, Minnesota, which is about 90 minutes away from Fargo. “It’s kind of more out in the country than we would like to claim in Fargo,â€� Hoge said with a smile. “But it was pretty funny. A little different. Dark humor, for sure.â€� Fargo’s visitors center even has an exhibit that includes several of the original scripts, as well as few props. Among those is the wood chipper which the organization’s website calls the “most notorious prop in cinematic history.â€�  Hoge actually was born in Statesville, North Carolina, but moved to Fargo when he was 6 months old. He lived in North Dakota full-time until 2007 when he went to Fort Worth to play golf at Texas Christian University. He’s lived there ever since. At its best, the golf season in Fargo – which was voted as “America’s Toughest Weather Cityâ€� in a 2011 poll on The Weather Channel — only runs from mid-April to mid-November. Hoge can remember high school tournaments as late as in May that were snowed out but he made the most of the days when Mother Nature cooperated. “I kind of laugh, frost delays in Phoenix and places like that when it’s 40 or 45 degrees,â€� Hoge says. “I remember days out playing golf when it was 25 degrees in Fargo. “The golf courses probably didn’t like it that much but I was always trying to get out there and play.â€� Hoge started playing golf when he was 3 years old. He and his brother Charlie would tag along, hitting a few shots here and there, when their parents went to Fargo Country Club. He was inspired by Tiger Woods’ first Masters win and by the time he was 10, Hoge could be found hanging out at the golf course whenever there wasn’t any snow on the ground. “It doesn’t sound like it, Fargo, North Dakota being a golf town, but our golf club had a par-three course where the holes were 60 to 125 yards long and kids could go play that as much as they wanted,â€� he says. “It really was a good spot to grow up and learn how to play.â€� In fact, Hoge estimates, he’s one of 5 or 10 golfers from Fargo who went on to play NCAA Division I golf despite being limited by the relatively short season. A couple played on the Nationwide Tour, as did Hoge, but he is the first to make it to the PGA TOUR full-time. “There were a few times in the winter where I’d be trying to go to play in tournaments in Arizona or somewhere and there’d be snow on the ground,â€� Hoge remembers. “But I’d just kind of shovel the snow away and hit a few balls. “On more than one occasion I would say I’d be the only person on the course every day. But I always wanted to play on the PGA TOUR so I’d use whatever opportunities I had to get better.â€� When the snow piled up – Fargo had to dig out from a record 117 inches of the white stuff during the winter of 1996-97 – Hoge did have another option. He could go to the Sports Bubble and hit off mats at the indoor driving range. While it may not have been satisfying seeing the ball just go 50 yards or so, it was a good place to work on the fundamentals of the game. And it was warm. “So there’s parts when I look back on it growing up in Fargo that were very beneficial to me,â€� Hoge says. “Obviously, you’re limited just not being able to practice and get the experience other guys would in Texas and Florida or other parts of the country. “But it was a good spot. You learn work ethic up there pretty good just because your time is so much shorter than everyone else.â€� Hoge, who is quick to point out that he doesn’t miss the snow or the winters in North Dakota, is currently in the midst of the best year of his TOUR career. He’s had two top-10s in eight starts, including a tie for third at the Sony Open in Hawaii where he held the third-round lead. The way Hoge sees it, weathering the brutal winters in a city that is just 160 miles from the Canadian border, builds character and that has helped him along the way. “If you’d look at kind of the way my career’s been there’s been a lot of times where I’d been struggling and kind of close to losing status,â€� Hoge says. “And going back to the Web.com Tour finals this year I had to birdie seven of the last 12 holes to get back out on the PGA TOUR. “And I think there’s some of that fight that growing up in North Dakota instilled in me.â€�

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For Morgan Stanley, it’s more than just golf competition at THE PLAYERS Championship. As a Proud Partner of the PGA TOUR’s flagship event, the company believes in furthering their impact beyond the tournament. This week, Morgan Stanley took that impact beyond the ropes, educating young women on the professional sport and their future endeavors. On Tuesday, Morgan Stanley hosted 25 girls from the local First Tee chapter at their No. 18 hole hospitality venue. During their visit, the girls had the chance to listen to a panel discussion with LPGA Tour professional, Cheyenne Woods. Woods, who currently plays on the Ladies European Tour, was part of her local First Tee chapter in Phoenix, Arizona, growing up. At the event, Woods offered her personal and professional advice to the participants attending. Through her Q&A, she spoke about her experience as a woman in golf and how the First Tee was a critical part to her career. “I think that it’s important to embrace women and girls in golf,â€� Woods said. “It is a very male-dominated sport, and for women to connect through it, we can push and support each other. Being involved with the First Tee growing up helped with my career because I had mentors to look up to and that helped me along the way. Even if you don’t play professionally, there are a lot of characteristics you can take away from the sport.â€�  Morgan Stanley brought out several other guests to the panel, including Cynthia Howard, with the PGA TOUR and a First Tee of Metropolitan New York board member; Taylor Strick, with Aon; Jen Weiler, from the First Tee; and Valerie Wong Fountain, from the Morgan Stanley local branch. Together, those on the panel represented several industries to help educate the girls with career advice. Before the networking event, Morgan Stanley had one more surprise for some of the First Tee participants. Five of the girls each received a $1,000 scholarship, which funds an internship for each to be mentors in their local area. Isabel, who is a senior in high school, was one of the recipients of the scholarship. She will be attending Southern Westland to play on their Division II golf team, and will be majoring in communications. “I have been a First Tee participant for 10 yearsâ€� Isabel said, “and the mentors in the organization have become family to me. It is an honor to receive this scholarship to be able to give back. I have had so many mentors growing up, and to become one is amazing for me.â€� Taking it inside the ropes, 2018 FedExCup Champion Justin Rose serves as an ambassador for Morgan Stanley. In partnership with THE PLAYERS, Rose and Morgan Stanley will again be implementing their Eagles for Impact Challenge for the fourth consecutive year. With the 24th eagle made during competition, Morgan Stanley will reach a milestone of donating $1 million through the challenge. While on the course, Rose will be sporting a Book Trust pin on his hat for the entirety of the tournament to help raise awareness for the charity and the Eagles for Impact program. Through the challenge, celebrations of great shots are made by giving back to communities and future generations. About Morgan Stanley and Eagles for Impact At Morgan Stanley, giving back is one of our core values and we are committed to helping children succeed. As a proud partner of THE PLAYERS® Championship, we created the Eagles for Impact Challenge. For every eagle made at the tournament, we donate $5,000, the equivalent of 1,500 books to Book Trust, which supports youth literacy. Ten-time PGA TOUR champion Justin Rose joined the Morgan Stanley team as our brand ambassador in 2017, a relationship rooted in our shared set of values and commitment to helping children around the world. Says Rose, “Morgan Stanley as a company embodies many of the traits that I pride myself on: focus, integrity and giving back.â€� We also both strive to find solutions to challenges, whether on and off the course. For more information, visit https://www.morganstanley.com/golf. About Book Trust Book Trust empowers students from low-income communities to choose and love their own books. When children can choose and own what they want to read, they are building a lifetime love of reading and learning. Last year, Morgan Stanley donated 93,000 books to children in need across the country thanks to the 62 eagles made during the tournament. For more information, visit https://www.booktrust.org/.

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