Beyond The Golf

To call Morgan Hoffmann a professional golfer would be a misnomer.

While he does play golf for a living, the former Cowboy All-American is so much more.

A man of many interests and a self-described "adrenaline junkie", the sport is just one part of the equation for the man who is equal parts adventurous and charitable as well.

If anybody can attest to the type of character Hoffmann possesses, it is his former coach and caddy, OSU assistant golf coach Donnie Darr.

He walked with Hoffmann during his first tournament as a Cowboy and the relationship blossomed from there. After Darr left to become the head coach at Ohio State, they remained in contact with Hoffmann even taking up residence with the Darr family for the Tour's annual stop at The Memorial.

Eventually, they teamed up during the summer of 2015 with Darr on the bag for Hoffmann, including the summer's three major championships, before he made his return to Stillwater to assume his current position.

"He is a way better person than he is a golfer and anybody that knows Morgan Hoffmann knows that," Darr said. "We have always been proud of how he handles himself, how he represents himself and everything he stands for."

Whether it be his countless charitable acts, his role in launching a rapidly growing clothing line, obtaining his pilot's license, chasing hockey pucks on the ice or free diving near his home in Jupiter, Florida, Hoffmann has already accomplished and experienced more than most will in a lifetime and has done so before the age of 30.

The Humanitarian

With the numerous demands that accompany life as a student-athlete, a premium is placed on spare time. While at OSU, Hoffmann's time away from school and sport served as a precursor of things to come once he began life as a touring pro.

During his sophomore year, Hoffmann teamed with fellow Cowboy Sean Einhaus, whose mother is Nepalese, to form the Nepal Golf Fund in an effort to raise money for poverty-stricken children in her homeland.

The duo took pledges for holes played. After completing 108 holes in one day, they raised enough money to send computers to a school Einhaus' family had built.

Hoffmann's passion for helping children comes naturally as he remains young at heart.

"If you watch him around other adults or around children, he is a giant kid at heart and very much a family guy and very much a close, personal friend type of guy," Darr said.

Not surprisingly, Hoffmann's list of charitable endeavors currently includes The First Tee, various YMCA functions in his native New Jersey and a return to Stillwater a year ago to help raise money for OSU's Coaches vs. Cancer program through its golf outing.

"I really love The First Tee program and how they teach kids to grow up, respect others and how to carry themselves and look you in the eye with a firm handshake. Their moral guidance is awesome," Hoffmann said.

Additionally, Hoffmann's work has benefitted those who serve in the armed forces, with philanthropic efforts for wounded warriors and military families through organizations such as Birdies for the Brave and Folds of Honor.

"We can't do our job, which is playing golf every day in perfect weather, if it was not for the military and what they do for us. They serve for our freedom. Everybody in this country should give back and give as much thanks to them as we possibly can," Hoffmann said.

Private by nature, Hoffmann decided to go public with a Dec. 4 article to The Players Tribune Hoffmann penned himself titled 'So Damn Lucky'. In it, he dropped a bombshell with the revelation he had been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in November of 2016.

Hoffmann considers the written word a good outlet to express his thoughts. After exploring multiple options to tell his story, he eventually settled on The Players Tribune. The makeup of the outlet offered the perfect avenue for Hoffmann to tailor his message to his liking.

"I wanted to release it with something that has been established. The Players Tribune hit home for me more because it is professional athletes who have told their story no matter what it was," Hoffmann said. "This wasn't just about golf and that is what I am about. I always trained to be an athlete and not just a golfer. I thought it would reach a larger scale if I did that."

The month of May, which happens to fall in the heart of the PGA Tour calendar, was originally slated as a target date for his announcement, but Hoffmann held off until the narrative was crafted exactly the way he desired.

"I just couldn't get the article where I wanted it to be. The time just wasn't right. Originally, I thought I wanted to do it between events. I didn't want to get distracted by what might come from releasing it and I am pretty happy that I released it when I did in December after everything was over," Hoffmann said.

Once his condition was made public, Hoffmann was flooded by an overwhelming amount of support from those in the golf community and beyond.

"The support has been incredible and it took a lot of time to respond to people. I have gotten responses from actors, performers and all kinds of people from different walks of life," Hoffmann said.

Among the public displays of support was a tweet from one of OSU's most famous alumni, Boone Pickens.

"Some great men and women pass through #okstate to inspire others. Touched by @Morgan_Hoffmann for his strength, courage and grit. A good and must-read."

Not surprisingly, Hoffmann's former Cowboys teammates, including fellow PGA Tour members Kevin Tway and Peter Uihlein, have been there every step of the way and were among the select few to learn of Hoffmann's condition prior to his public unveiling.

"Kevin and Peter have always been there for me and I am there for them. It is a brotherhood with the Oklahoma State crew and it has been really amazing that we can all keep that. Peter and Kevin and all those guys have told me they would be there for me from day one. It is really special to have that relationship,"

Like Hoffmann, Tway and Uihlein have taken up residence in Florida since leaving Stillwater and have remained part of their former teammate's support system on and off the course.

"We played with him the day that the article came out. Hoff had told us a while ago, so I remember at the time looking it up and not really thinking too much about it until the article came out and then it really hit home for both of us," Uihlein said.

"Just to be out with him that day and he was in good spirits and I think it was a nice weight off his shoulders. It seemed like he was relieved and relaxed. All of the support he has been getting from all over has been incredible and has been good for him."

Dealing with a disease that provides a lot of unknowns has proven frustrating at times for Hoffmann. What he does know about his specific type, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, is it causes atrophy to the chest, back, neck arms and, in some cases, the legs.

"I have done a lot of research and people don't know that much about it in the form of where it is going to go and how fast or how slow. That is the most frustrating part," Hoffmann said.

In an attempt to slow and potentially halt his symptoms, Hoffmann has implemented an all-organic diet, meditation, infrared sauna treatments to remove the toxins from his body and hyperbaric chamber sessions before bed to his daily routine. However, nothing may be more effective than his attitude.

"It is always hard to get this kind of news for anyone, but I have always been told it is the way you handle it. It is the way you get up from your fall. It is kind of something that I have taken to heart," Hoffmann said.

Hoffmann first discovered deterioration in his right pectoral muscle shortly after leaving OSU join the professional ranks in 2011. Seeking the opinion of specialists numbering more than 25 across the U.S. and Canada, it was not until the end of 2016 he was given a proper diagnosis via a blood test.

"It was tough. I had a lot going on last year and I think this year my mind is a lot more free and I have so much support that is overwhelming. I am in a much better place this year, so I am pretty excited about the year going forward. It is going to be good to have that weight off my shoulders," Hoffmann said.

With his right pectoral muscle having vanished, his left is not far behind and the incurable disease has recently crept into his lower extremities. Nonetheless, Hoffmann has adapted and thrived earning more than $1.3 million and a runner-up finish at The Honda Classic on Tour a year ago.

"That is really impressive, but what is more impressive is it has been hanging over him for more than a year and people probably don't realize that," Darr said. "For him to be able to put the worries behind him and still play great golf is really impressive and speaks to his mental toughness and his perseverance and the type of person he is."

With that weight having lifted, Hoffmann has now embarked on another charitable endeavor, proving it is not what happens to you in life, it truly is how you respond.

"I realize that with the platform that I have I can reach a lot of people and hopefully change their lives in a good way. It is not just about me and my pity, if I had that mindset that would be pretty pathetic so I am excited to really make a difference," Hoffmann said.

In August, he will host a golf outing at Arcola Country Club in his native New Jersey and the overflowing support Hoffmann has received is evident. The 44-team event sold out within weeks of his announcement and has already raised more than $400,000. The goal now is to push that total into seven figures, in hopes of creating a center for health and wellness.

A web site for those wanting to support the cause is in the works and is set to be unveiled in the near future.

"My main goal is to have it open to people who want to become healthy and learn more about their body. We are going to have physicians, physical therapists, trainers, nutritionists and meditation guidance. It is going to be a one-stop shop to becoming your best self," Hoffmann said.

The Aviator

Born into a family whose livelihood has been rooted in aviation, it is easy to see why Hoffmann is as comfortable in the air as he is on the tee box.

"My mom is a flight attendant, my dad had his pilot's license, my uncle flew C-130s in the Navy, my other uncle flew C-5s and my cousin designed landing gears for Boeing," Hoffmann said.

Hoffmann is not the first PGA Tour standout to share a love of golf and flying. A man by the name of Arnold Palmer also had a passion for birdies and metal-winged birds. While in college, Hoffmann had the opportunity to meet Palmer and absorb knowledge from one of the game's giants.

"I met Mr. Palmer at the 2009 Palmer Cup and he really inspired me and I wanted to be like him," Hoffmann said. "He told me about the different planes he had and how he worked up from a Cessna 152 to a G5. Anybody can do it, just stay on the books and keep studying, just like golf, you have to stay on it. It can be the most beneficial and fun thing you could ever do."

And stay on it he has, graduating from a Piper Lance to a Piper Mirage with the end goal being to work his way into the cockpit of a jet. Following his diagnosis, Hoffmann's persistence was tested with the Federal Aviation Administration requiring a recertification to prove he was fit to continue flying. He was approved in late January.

Hoffmann first obtained his pilot's license in October of 2014 with a large part of his work being done during his time as a student at OSU.

"I have been flying since college, so I took ground school at Oklahoma State and then took lessons during my off time," Hoffmann said.

Hoffmann's love of flying has proven beneficial on multiple fronts, serving not only to fulfill one of his passions, but provides a cost-effective way to navigate a busy Tour schedule.

"It is definitely a release, but I am not just in it for the adrenaline or the freedom to get away. It is very cost efficient and smart. It is way cheaper than flying commercially, I don't have to check bags or go through security. I just roll right up, throw a bunch of stuff in and go," Hoffmann explained.

"Getting my time in the air and being alone up there or having some great friends in the air with me is the coolest experience," Hoffmann, who counts PGA Tour players Derek Fathauer and Daniel Berger among those who have hitched rides, said.

Hoffmann has been able to draw numerous parallels between his time on the links and his time in the air. Something that has proven beneficial in polishing his game.

"With flying, you can have a little fun and it is great, but know your limitations. Know what you can do and how you can perform and how your plane can perform. I am thankful I got a great education, I am about safety and it has played over into my golf now. I am a lot more prepared and having a plan for my schedule and my season and workouts," Hoffmann said.

The Clothier

Tracing back to his days as a junior golfer, it would be difficult to find a better-dressed player on the golf course than Morgan Hoffmann and his classic and clean looks.

Around age 15, Hoffmann began to wear Ralph Lauren apparel on the links. In the process, he struck up a friendship with a prominent player in the industry by the name of Charlie Schaefer, who worked as the senior vice president of design for Ralph Lauren.

The duo quickly developed a friendship and shared the same vision of starting a small business venture of their own.

After 13 years with Ralph Lauren, Schaefer approached Hoffmann about making their dream a reality. The decision was an easy one.

"I was like, 'Absolutely, we have to go for it.' We were cautious, but very determined and I remember it like it was yesterday. We were sitting there sketching ideas for a logo and trying to figure out a name. His daughter's name was perfect for it and he named it after his first daughter," Hoffmann said.

With that, Greyson was born.

In 2015, Hoffmann debuted the brand on the pristine fairways of Augusta National at The Masters for all to see. Being the catalyst for the company's popularity is considered a point of pride for the trendsetting Tour star.

"I always love doing my own thing, from the way I dress to the people I know or what hobbies I have. I like to be different and Greyson is awesome and different. It takes the right character to be part of the brand and it is really special for me to be the first guy sponsored on Tour," Hoffmann said.

While Hoffmann is invested with one of the larger stakes in the company, his role remains largely in providing feedback on design and product performance.

"I have equity in it, but it is not like I am making the business decisions. I am more of the how does this fit, how does the material feel, how is it going to perform on Tour part of it," Hoffmann explained.

By Hoffmann's account, Schaefer remains the mastermind behind the inner workings of the company.

"He is obviously the one doing the sketches for the shirts and everything. He would pick designs and I would add my input. When the shirts come out and we make a couple of prototypes, I will tell him about the fit, if the collar is a little weird or whatever. He is doing all of the designing and it is incredible what he comes up with," Hoffmann said.

When made available for purchase in March the year following its Augusta debut, the goal was to be in 100 clubs by year's end. By September, Greyson could already be found in three times the number originally desired. Prestigious venues such as Medinah, Merion, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Shinnecock, Winged Foot and, of course, Karsten Creek are counted among those carrying the wolf-branded apparel.

"The growth is really humbling. We always hoped and dreamed that it would be great, but we had no idea how fast it could grow and did. It happened in the blink of an eye," Hoffmann said.

From the humble beginnings of two friends sitting on a couch in the back room of Schaefer's house sketching potential logos, the company now boasts the world's former No. 1-ranked player, Luke Donald, among its playing ambassadors.

"It is hard to believe we have grown enough where other players are with us now. We are still a small business in the grand scheme of things, but we have the right people with the right attitude growing it," Hoffmann said.

It is that same right attitude and style with which Hoffmann attacks pins, philanthropies, business ventures, and most of all life. Because of that, those associated with OSU should consider themselves lucky to call Hoffmann one of their own.

So Damn Lucky.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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