The Charley Hoffman Revival Tour is heading home.
The San Diego product was one of 13 players to earn their way into next week’s US Open at Torrey Pines via Official World Golf Ranking and European Tour Qualifying Series exemptions.
Ten of those spots went to the top aggregate point earners, who were otherwise not exempt, in the three-event European Tour Qualifying Series. The notables among this group are Marcus Armitage (whose emotional response to winning Monday’s Porsche European Open went viral), Belfast British Masters champ Richard Bland, and one-time Ryder Cupper Edoardo Molinari. The rest of the 10 are rounded out by Guido Migliozzi, Mikko Korhonen, Jordan Smith, Adrian Meronk, Dave Coupland, Thomas Detry and Matthew Southgate.
Bernd Wiesberger, who won the second event in the Euro Tour Qualifying Series, got his invitation by moving into the top 60 in the World Ranking. A T-3 at Colonial two weeks back was enough to move Ian Poulter into the top 60 as well.
The top 60 is also how Hoffman will get to play in front of his hometown crowd.
Hoffman, who made the Presidents Cup team in 2017 but hasn’t finished better than 77th in the FedEx Cup since, is enjoying a career renaissance at 44 years old. As the season enters its final three months Hoffman has five top 10s and 13 top 25s in 24 starts, highlighted by a runner-up at the Texas Open. He enters the week ranked fifth in strokes gained/approach and 16th in strokes gained total, and is inside the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings.
“There’s only one goal,” Hoffman said after a T-3 at Colonial. “I’m obviously trying to win golf events but getting in that US Open is a key.”
Hoffman did not play at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, but does have 24 starts at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey with three top 10s.
The US Open begins June 17. Bryson DeChambeau is the defending champ.
[Image: Ben Jared]
