Charley Hoffman and Rico Hoey have taken center stage at The American Express tournament, sharing the lead after two impressive rounds. Both golfers delivered stunning performances, each shooting a 9-under 63 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course. This remarkable feat places them atop the leaderboard, setting the stage for a thrilling competition as the event progresses. Hoffman's experience and Hoey's rising potential present a fascinating dynamic at this prestigious golf tournament.
Hoffman, at 48 years old, brings a wealth of experience to the tournament. Having played the golf courses around Palm Springs since he was five, Hoffman has a deep connection to the area. The Nicklaus Tournament Course, where both leaders excelled, is among Hoffman's favorites. His familiarity with these greens has proven advantageous, as demonstrated by his past success. Notably, Hoffman claimed his first PGA Tour title at this very event in 2007 when it was known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Despite not having won since 2016 due to back troubles, Hoffman is feeling healthy and confident.
"I'm 48," and they sort of give you a look, like, what, you're 48 out here still playing? And in this day and age when we're going to 100 players now, guys playing at 48 on the PGA Tour is a thing of the past. I don't think you're going to see that much longer on the PGA Tour. But I'm going to try to battle out here as long as I can." – Charley Hoffman
Rico Hoey, on the other hand, represents the new wave of talent in the golfing world. At just 80 miles away from Rancho Cucamonga, where he grew up, Hoey is practically playing on home turf. His background includes a stellar career at the University of Southern California, which has undoubtedly contributed to his current success on the PGA Tour. Now in his second full year on the tour, Hoey is chasing his first victory.
"I played a lot of junior events out here, so just feels like I'm home," – Rico Hoey
The competition remains fierce with several prominent players closely trailing the leaders. Jason Day and J.J. Spaun are both at 14 under par, while Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris, and Doug Ghim follow closely at 12 under. Rickie Fowler made a significant move into contention with an impressive second-round performance that included 10 birdies, culminating in a score of 62 on the Nicklaus course.
Adding to the excitement, Justin Thomas and Sony Open champion Nick Taylor are tied with Hoffman at 13-under 131. The early leader, J.T. Poston, experienced a setback with a disappointing round of 4-over 76 on the Stadium Course, causing him to fall down the leaderboard.
For Hoey, competing against such a talented field is both challenging and inspiring. His youthful enthusiasm and appreciation for the opportunity are evident as he navigates the competitive environment.
"It's great. Weather is awesome, so we don't really have too many tough conditions with the wind and whatnot. Made it a lot easier to score…. I'm still kind of starstruck with a lot of those guys, Hoffman, Cantlay, Rickie and whatnot. For me, it's really cool just to put my name out there and just keep up with them, so that's all I'm trying to do." – Rico Hoey
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