Scott Hoch Bio
Scott Mabon Hoch is an American professional golfer who has competed at the highest levels of the sport for more than four decades. Born on November 24, 1955, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Hoch turned professional in 1979 and built a steady, durable career across the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour, and several international circuits. He represented the United States in the Ryder Cup in 1997 and 2002 and is widely remembered for both his accomplishments and a handful of memorable moments that defined his time in professional golf.
Throughout his career, Hoch has collected 23 professional wins, including 11 on the PGA Tour, and has earned recognition such as the Vardon Trophy and the Byron Nelson Award. He has also competed internationally with success on the European Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, the Korean Tour, and the PGA Tour Champions. Hoch is widely known for missing a two-foot putt that would have won the 1989 Masters Tournament on the first playoff hole, and he later lost to Nick Faldo on the next hole.
Early Life and Background
Scott Mabon Hoch was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1955 and grew up in a region with a strong tradition of competitive amateur golf. While attending Needham B. Broughton High School, he won the 1973 North Carolina High School Athletic Association men’s golf state championship, an early sign of the consistent ball-striking that would later define his professional profile.
After high school, Hoch joined the golf team at Wake Forest University, one of the most respected programs in American college golf, and he graduated in 1978. His college experience sharpened his competitive routine and helped him move confidently into the national amateur circuit, where his results drew attention from selectors of premier international teams.
Path to Professional Golf
In 1978, Hoch reached the final of the U.S. Amateur, where he lost 5 and 4 to John Cook in a match that confirmed his readiness for elite competition. His strong amateur play earned him a place on the United States team for the 1978 Eisenhower Trophy and the 1979 Walker Cup, both of which the Americans won. Those appearances placed him among the leading amateurs in the country.
His achievements in 1978 also led to an invitation to the 1979 Masters Tournament, where he tied for 34th place and finished as the second low amateur, behind Bobby Clampett. Shortly after that Masters appearance, Hoch turned professional in 1979 and began his climb through the professional ranks.
Scott Hoch Career
Early Career (1979–1985)
Hoch began his professional career on the PGA Tour in the early 1980s and worked to establish himself against a deep international field. He quickly showed the kind of steady scoring that would become his trademark, and his consistency helped him move up the tour’s money list within a few seasons.
During this developmental period, Hoch laid the foundation for his breakthrough years by playing a full schedule across the United States and abroad. The discipline he built in his early professional years carried over into the next phase of his career, when he began contending regularly and adding trophies to his record.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1986–1995)
Hoch’s most productive PGA Tour stretch began in 1986, when he captured the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour. That same year, he also received the Byron Nelson Award, which recognized his outstanding scoring consistency over the season.
During this period, Hoch added key PGA Tour titles such as the Western Open, the Ford Championship at Doral, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and the Heineken Dutch Open. He played extensively abroad and performed well, recording three victories on the Japan Golf Tour and a victory at the 1995 Dutch Open on the European Tour. He reached the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking and remained a regular presence in major championships, where he earned a reputation for both quality ball-striking and a few heartbreaking finishes.
Later PGA Tour and International Years (1996–2006)
Hoch continued to compete on the PGA Tour through the 1990s and into the 2000s, and he represented the United States in the Ryder Cup in both 1997 and 2002. Before his 2002 Ryder Cup appearance, he famously described the event as overrated and suggested it had become too inflammatory, a stance that drew considerable attention.
Throughout this stretch, Hoch added multiple victories on the Korean Tour and additional top finishes on the Japan Golf Tour, including runner-up results at the 1987 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament and the 1994 Casio World Open. He also finished as runner-up at the 1995 New Zealand Open on the Australasian Tour and the 1996 Dutch Open, showing his continued ability to compete outside the United States.
Champions Tour Era (2007–Present)
In May 2007, Hoch won his first Champions Tour event at the FedEx Kinko’s Classic, signaling a smooth transition to senior competition. In February 2008, he added two more victories in consecutive weeks, demonstrating that his game had adapted well to the Champions Tour format.
In April 2019, Hoch won the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf with Tom Pernice Jr. at the age of 63. That victory was his first in 11 years and made him the oldest winner on the Champions Tour at the time, a record that stood until Bernhard Langer broke it at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in October 2021.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hoch built his career on accurate iron play and disciplined course management, traits that helped him post the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour in 1986. His steady temperament and reliable short game made him a consistent contender on courses that rewarded precision over power.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hoch is widely remembered for missing a two-foot putt that would have won the 1989 Masters Tournament on the first playoff hole, and he later lost to Nick Faldo on the next hole. At the 1987 PGA Championship, he three-putted the 18th hole on Sunday from inside ten feet when a two-putt would have secured a playoff spot. He is also known for his critical quote about The Open Championship venue at St Andrews, which contributed to his being characterized as an “ugly American,” a label he has disputed through his extensive international play.
Scott Hoch Career Wins
Scott Hoch has compiled 23 professional wins across multiple tours, a total that reflects his longevity and his willingness to compete globally. His victories span the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour, the European Tour, the PGA of Japan Tour, and the Korean Tour, along with other international events.
PGA Tour Highlights
Hoch has recorded 11 PGA Tour wins, with a playoff record of 2–2. Among his most notable PGA Tour titles are the Western Open, the Ford Championship at Doral, and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. His 1986 Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award highlighted a season of exceptional scoring consistency on the PGA Tour.
Champions Tour Highlights
On the Champions Tour, Hoch has earned 4 wins, with a playoff record of 1–1. His first Champions Tour victory came at the 2007 FedEx Kinko’s Classic, followed by two wins in consecutive weeks in February 2008. His 2019 Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf win with Tom Pernice Jr. marked his return to the winner’s circle after an 11-year gap.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, Hoch has won 3 events on the PGA of Japan Tour, 1 event on the European Tour, and 2 events on the Korean Tour. He has also recorded runner-up finishes at the 1987 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, the 1994 Casio World Open, the 1995 New Zealand Open, and the 1996 Dutch Open, reinforcing his reputation as a reliable international competitor.
Scott Hoch Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Scott Mabon Hoch was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, where his early environment supported his development in golf. He attended Needham B. Broughton High School and later Wake Forest University, both institutions with strong athletic traditions.
Personal Life
Hoch is married to Sally Hoch, his wife of many years. In 1982, the couple experienced a frightening incident in Tucson, Arizona, when an intruder entered their hotel room, held them at gunpoint, and tied them up for an hour, an event Hoch later said made him fear for his life. Hoch has also spoken openly about the emotional toll of being named “Least Popular Golfer” in a 1989 Dallas Times Herald poll of Tour players.
2025 Season Outlook
As a longstanding Champions Tour competitor, Hoch is expected to continue his selective senior schedule in 2025, building on his record as one of the circuit’s most enduring players. With 4 Champions Tour wins already on his resume, he remains capable of contending on courses that reward accuracy and course management.
Hoch’s 2019 Legends of Golf victory showed that he can still close out tournaments at an elite level, even at an advanced age. If he stays healthy and chooses a focused Champions Tour calendar, he has a realistic chance to add to his career totals and possibly climb further up the all-time senior wins list.