Scott Hoch Bio
Scott Mabon Hoch is an American professional golfer whose career has spanned more than four decades. He represented the United States in the Ryder Cup in 1997 and 2002, competing against the best players from Europe in one of the sport’s most prestigious team events. Throughout his career, Hoch has recorded 23 professional victories across multiple tours, including 11 wins on the PGA Tour. He is perhaps best remembered for his narrow loss at the 1989 Masters Tournament and for winning the 1986 Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award.
Early Life and Background
Scott Mabon Hoch was born on November 24, 1955, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He grew up in the same state that would later become central to his early development as a golfer. While attending Needham B. Broughton High School, Hoch captured the 1973 North Carolina High School Athletic Association men’s golf state championship, an early sign of the talent that would carry him to the professional ranks.
After high school, Hoch enrolled at Wake Forest University, a program with a strong tradition in college golf. He was a member of the university’s golf team and graduated in 1978. His time at Wake Forest helped him refine his game and prepared him for the international stage of amateur competition.
Path to Golf
Hoch’s amateur career reached its peak in 1978 when he advanced to the final of the U.S. Amateur, where he lost 5 and 4 to John Cook. That strong showing earned him a place on the American team for two major international events, the 1978 Eisenhower Trophy and the 1979 Walker Cup, both of which the United States won. His achievements also brought an invitation to the 1979 Masters Tournament, where he tied for 34th place as the second low amateur, finishing only behind Bobby Clampett.
Following that Masters appearance and his final U.S. Amateur appearance, Hoch turned professional in 1979. His amateur resume gave him a foundation of high-level experience that eased his transition into the paid ranks of professional golf.
Scott Hoch Career
Early Career (1979–1985)
After turning professional in 1979, Hoch began competing on the PGA Tour and worked to establish himself against the strongest players in the game. He spent the early years of his career learning how to handle the demands of weekly tournament play, including travel, course preparation, and the mental pressure of competing for a living.
By the middle of the decade, his consistency began to show. In 1986, he captured both the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour and the Byron Nelson Award, honors that recognized his steady ball-striking and accuracy over an entire season.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (1986–1990)
Hoch’s first significant PGA Tour victory came in 1986, the same season in which he earned the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award. Over the following seasons, he added several titles, including the Western Open, the Ford Championship at Doral, and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, establishing himself as a reliable contender.
His career-defining moment came at the 1989 Masters Tournament, where he arrived at the first playoff hole needing only a two-foot putt to win a green jacket. Hoch missed the putt and lost to Nick Faldo on the following hole, a result that became one of the most famous heartbreaks in Masters history. Earlier, at the 1987 PGA Championship, he had three-putted the 18th hole on Sunday from inside ten feet, a two-putt that would have sent him into a playoff.
International Success (1991–2002)
Beyond the PGA Tour, Hoch built a strong record overseas. He won the 1995 Dutch Open on the European Tour and added three victories on the Japan Golf Tour, along with two wins on the Korean Tour. He also posted runner-up finishes at events such as the 1987 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, the 1994 Casio World Open, the 1995 New Zealand Open, and the 1996 Dutch Open.
In 1997, Hoch reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 11th on April 6. He represented the United States in the Ryder Cup that same year and returned to the team for the 2002 matches, contributing to two of the era’s most intense team competitions.
PGA Tour Champions Era (2007–Present)
Hoch joined the PGA Tour Champions and won his first event on that circuit in May 2007 at the FedEx Kinko’s Classic. In February 2008, he added two more titles in consecutive weeks, signaling that his game remained sharp into his fifties.
In April 2019, at the age of 63, Hoch teamed with Tom Pernice Jr. to win the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf. The victory ended an 11-year winless streak and made Hoch the oldest winner on the Champions Tour, a record that stood until October 2021, when Bernhard Langer surpassed it at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hoch’s career is marked by several signature moments. The missed two-foot putt at the 1989 Masters and his earlier three-putt at the 1987 PGA Championship remain two of the most discussed finishes of his generation. His 1986 Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award stand as statistical honors, while his longevity on the Champions Tour highlighted his enduring skill.
Scott Hoch Career Wins
Across his career, Hoch has accumulated 23 professional victories, a number that reflects success on multiple tours. He has won 11 events on the PGA Tour, 4 on the PGA Tour Champions, 3 on the Japan Golf Tour, 2 on the Korean Tour, 1 on the European Tour, and 2 in other competitions.
PGA Tour Highlights
Hoch’s 11 PGA Tour wins include the Western Open, the Ford Championship at Doral, and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. His first PGA Tour title arrived in 1986, the same year he earned the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award. He has recorded a 2-2 playoff record in PGA Tour events, an indication of his willingness to compete in sudden-death situations.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Hoch captured the 1995 Dutch Open on the European Tour and three titles on the Japan Golf Tour, where he also finished second at the 1987 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament and the 1994 Casio World Open. He has added two wins on the Korean Tour and finished runner-up at the 1995 New Zealand Open on the Australasian Tour and the 1996 Dutch Open.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour | 11 | — | — |
| European Tour | 1 | — | — |
| Japan Golf Tour | 3 | — | — |
| PGA Tour Champions | 4 | — | — |
| Korean Tour | 2 | — | — |
| Other | 2 | — | — |
Scott Hoch Family
Personal Life
Hoch is married to Sally Hoch. The couple experienced a frightening incident in 1982 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.
2025 Season Performance
Scott Mabon Hoch continues to compete on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025 at the age of 69. As a veteran presence on the senior circuit, he remains eligible to play in the season’s Champions events and continues to draw on more than four decades of professional experience.
His career achievements, including 4 Champions Tour wins and a former mark as the oldest winner on that circuit, keep him among the respected senior players. While his best years on the regular PGA Tour are behind him, his longevity allows him to remain a familiar face at Champions Tour stops throughout the year.
Looking ahead, Hoch’s focus in 2025 is on maintaining his competitive form and adding to his 23 professional victories. Whether or not he adds another title, his career statistics and his appearances in Ryder Cups and major championships have already secured his place in American golf history.