Hoffmann Facing MD Diagnosis Head On; Announces Local Pro-Am
On December 4, former Met Area standout and current PGA TOUR player Morgan Hoffmann shared his muscular dystrophy diagnosis with the world. Typically a private person, Hoffmann revealed his news by authoring an insightful piece for the Players Tribune, chronicling not only the struggles and challenges he faces, but also his hopefulness to fight the disease and his drive to have an impact on others.
Related: Hoffmann's Players Tribune Story
“I’ve had so many different people reach out, from people who have the same type of muscular dystrophy that I do, to players and different people that I haven’t talked to in years,” says Hoffmann about the response. While it took several years to figure out, Hoffmann in November 2016 was diagnosed specifically with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, which is characterized by atrophy of the chest, back, neck, arms, and sometimes legs, though each case can progress at a different rate.
Hoffmann has received even further support as he’s launched the Morgan Hoffmann Foundation, with plans of a fundraising Pro-Am taking place on August 20, 2018 at Arcola Country Club, the Wyckoff, N.J., native’s home club. Hoffmann says he’s already received commitments for a number of teams, even without full details available.
He foresees two shotguns taking place for the event, with teams consisting of four amateurs and a professional golfer, or a celebrity, athlete, or performer. He’s also planning on holding a kickoff party the evening before in New York City featuring a musical performance and charity auction.
“My ultimate goal is to have a wellness center,” says Hoffmann for the goals of his Foundation. He aims to create a space where a variety of health professionals—doctors, nutritionists, physical therapists, massage therapists—are available to help educate people on healthy lifestyles. “That’s really my passion. It’s not going to be dedicated just to muscular dystrophy, either. I want it to be open to anybody who wants to change their life and the way they feel.”
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| Hoffmann in the 2012 Met Open at Plainfield, where he finished as runner-up. |
The fact that Hoffmann has long been committed to healthy living made the diagnosis even more challenging, but the situation has led him to become even more devoted to healthy choices. He has gone away from meat and is sticking to vegetables, rice, and other organic offerings and mainly water to drink. “It’s made me feel really good,” he says. “I have a lot of energy, so I’m going to stick with it for a while. I’m working out hard, just trying to get stronger and build as much muscle as I can before whatever muscles start atrophying more.”
Hoffmann has also kept a good perspective on what he’s facing, choosing to focus on the positive—after all, 2017 was one of his most successful seasons so far in his PGA TOUR career as he logged a runner-up finish, another top-10 and finished 80th in the FedExCup standings.
“It’s tough, but I’m only one person on this planet,” he says regarding his positive perspective. “If I can affect more than just me in a positive light, that really is what I want to do. I truly can’t believe that I’ve been diagnosed with this, but it is what it is and there’s no point in suffering on my own and making it just about me. I figure if I can help others and change even if it’s just five people’s lives, then that would make me happy.”
Hoffmann—who was a regular MGA competitor as a junior and won the Carter Cup at Winged Foot in 2005—has a full slate scheduled for 2018, beginning with the Sony Open in Hawaii, Jan. 11-14. His early schedule continues with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale and the Genesis Open at Riviera.
For more information about the Pro-Am, please contact tournament director Jim Craffey of Arcola at jimcraffey@gmail.com.