PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Morgan Hoffmann sees more opportunities on a leaderboard than ever before.
His run into early contention at the Honda Classic Thursday gives him more than a chance to win a trophy and a big check.
He sees it as a chance to change more than his life.
Hoffmann has muscular dystrophy.
He shared that news with the world at the end of last year in a heart-rendering fashion.
“Today I know that am so damn lucky,” he wrote about his opportunities as a PGA Tour pro in a first-person story for The Players’ Tribune in December. “Because I’ve found my calling, and it’s one far beyond golf.”
With a 3-under-par 67 at PGA National’s Champion Course, Hoffmann moved into contention to win his first PGA Tour title. He also moved into position to advance his cause.
“Hopefully find a cure,” Hoffmann, 28, said after a round of four birdies and a bogey left him a shot off the lead.
Hoffmann believes that is why he was put on this earth.
“So that when a child is diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, there will be a cure,” he says.
Hoffmann has to overcome some physical challenges to keep playing, and he has been struggling with his game this year, but he says that is more about the dynamics of the swing than the disease. He arrived at the Honda Classic off five consecutive missed cuts and a first-round withdrawal from last week’s Genesis Open.
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“I’ve lost a lot of speed in my swing, but my swing is still there,” Hoffman said. “I’m on plane. It’s not like it’s really killing my golf game. This isn’t the reason for the last missed cuts. I’ve been working on a lot of things.”
Hoffman’s type of MD causes degeneration of muscles in the chest, back, neck, arms and sometimes the legs. He has particularly struggled with his pectoral muscles.
With a special diet, he’s attacking his issues. And with the help of his team of family and friends, he’s fighting for the larger cause. He’s aiming to build a wellness center, a kind of health superstore. He’s planning an inaugural fundraising pro-am Aug. 20 in Paramus, N.J.
Hoffmann was shaken by the blow when a doctor delivered the diagnosis in 2016, but his attitude since has been inspiring.
“The doctor wasn’t nice,” Hoffman said. “He was like, `Yeah, you have it.’ I went, `Well, all right, I’m speechless . . . What can I do?’ He’s like, `There’s no cure,’ and he basically hung up. I was pretty pissed off.”
But Hoffman came out of that quickly. He’s excited about the doctor he’s working with today and the health and wellness plan he is following.
“I could become a recluse and feel bad for myself, but what’s that going to do?” he said. “I love being out here, and I love playing on the PGA Tour, and that’s my dream. To help people, ultimately, is my goal. I think I can do really special things with this platform.”
Source: Internet
