Tom Hoge made a single bogey and shot a 9-under 64 to take the lead at the season-opening Sentry.
“Really didn’t have much for expectations coming in, because there wasn’t a whole lot of play or practice the last few months. But felt like I was putting really well coming into the week,” said Hoge.
“I played all the way through Mexico, first week of November. Then was just at home, and we had our first child in early December, so kind of forced time off. I feel like with the changes in the schedule, last year was a lot of golf from now until the TOUR Championship, it was cramped in there pretty tight, so I felt like I was pretty burned out at that point, needed a little bit of time away.”
Hoge shot ten birdies on Thursday equaling his career-high from the third round of the 2023 Players Championship (62).
“Started right off the bat on 1 with a nice 15, 20-footer that I made. Made another one on 3. And then chipped in on 4. So kind of a nice way to ease into the round and kind of get things going.
“I feel like it’s a golf course that sets up for me well. There’s some room off the tee, so you can drive it in a lot of fairways. And then you hit some good irons in you feel like you can make a lot of birdie out here. Feel like I should play well, and hopefully I can keep that going.”
Hoge, who has won once previously in 286 starts on the PGA Tour (at the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am), finished 29th in the FedEx Cup last season advancing to the Tour Championship for the second time (2022) and securing his invitation to the Sentry by finishing in the top 50.
American Will Zalatoris carded a bogey-free 65 to take a share of second place at 8-under alongside Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama who made an eagle at the par-5 15th and a single bogey.
Collin Morikawa of the United States recorded a bogey-free, 7-under 66 and lies in a share of fourth place at 7-under alongside compatriot Cameron Young as well as Canada’s Corey Conners who remained bogey-free.
