Tom Hoge Proves He’s A Man Of The People On Flight Home After Winning $1.5 Million At Players Championship

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Last month, Netflix dropped the first season of Full Swing, the documentary series that gave golf the same treatment Formula 1 received with the wildly popular Drive to Survive.

It’s safe to say the series didn’t exactly paint the players who’ve defected to LIV Golf in a great light, as I’m not sure how the typical viewer is supposed to sympathize with the supposed plight of guys like Brooks Koepka and Ian Poulter when you consider the lavish homes and private jets that served as a backdrop for a number of scenes.

I’m not going to blame anyone who’s been lucky enough to earn tens of millions of dollars playing a sport for a living for taking advantage of the perks that come with that particular line of work.

With that said, that particular facet of the show didn’t give me much incentive to root for them.

However, it’s safe to say I don’t feel the same way about Tom Hoge.

Hoge hasn’t exactly dominated the PGA Tour since making his debut in 2015; he participated in 203 events before winning his first tournament at Pebble Beach last year but had still generated a very respectable $13.2 million in career earnings heading into the current season.

Despite those winnings, the North Dakota native has largely resisted the urge to splurge; when he spoke with The Associated Press earlier this year, he said he still books a ticket in coach whenever he flies.

Hoge more than held his own at The Players Championship this week, as the 10-under 62 he posted on Saturday was the lowest score ever recorded at TPC Sawgrass and helped him secure a third-place finish that netted him a cool $1.3 million.

No one would’ve blamed Hoge for opting to upgrade his ticket on his flight back home to Fort Worth, but AP golf writer Doug Ferguson quipped he’d undoubtedly be sitting toward the rear of the cabin after boarding.

It didn’t take long for Hoge to confirm that was indeed the case, as he posted a picture of himself posted up in seat 21C a few hours later.

You love to see it.