PAC Head Hoffman Opposes "Whatever The USGA's Trying To Prove On Distance"

The headline on this Will Gray GolfChannel.com piece suggests PGA Tour journeyman Charley Hoffman was extremely critical of the proposed Premier Golf League when talking to Matt Adams on his Fairways of Life show. But Hoffman’s quotes seemed to be a mix of cynicism, understanding and veteran wisdom.

From Gray’s report:

"I think it's intriguing that another group of people are willing to dump a bunch of money and try to guarantee us money, get some of the best players in the world to come over and play. I just don't think there's any sustainability or really any traction, personally," Hoffman said. "I haven't dug deep enough into any of that to see if it is. I don't know if I would like to be owned by some Saudi money over there, but if something was a life-changing amount of money they offered me, you'd have to look at it as an independent contractor. Because there's no guarantees that I'll have a PGA Tour card in three or four years."

Hardly a rip job there.

This was an intriguing notion that I genuinely wonder many fans think about.

"As an athlete, any guaranteed money is very intriguing," Hoffman said. "But I've grown up playing this game that there is nothing given to you, and you earn every penny of it. And I think that a lot of golf fans really enjoy watching that."

More surprising is Hoffman’s take on the USGA and R&A, makers of golf’s rules that are mostly played by on the PGA Tour. Given that Hoffman sits on the PGA Tour Policy Board and chairs the Player Advisory Council, I thought he might be more open to the governing body efforts.

After the usual stuff about athletes, technology, everyone loving hit it “further”, no big deal if you just have to add a few tees, etc… Hoffman suggests he’s already one vote opposed to doing anything.

“I am not really for whatever the USGA’s trying to prove or do.”

So much for an open mind to the Distance Insights Study! Certain golf hats do have a way of altering perspectives.