Charley Hoffman gets autographs, posts opening 67

Charley Hoffman had already missed Gary Player early Thursday and was determined not to let the rest of the Big Three walk away.

Armed with a pair of Mas­ters Tournament flags purchased a day earlier, Hoffman acquired autographs from Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus on the practice range.

The collectibles will be auctioned for Hoff­man’s foundation, which supports charities such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“I was sort of scared – should I ask them, should I not ask them?” Hoffman said. “My mind wasn’t really on golf really; I was watching those guys.”

It turned out to be a banner morning for Hoffman, who got the autographs, watched the Big Three tee off and proceeded to post an opening 5-under-par 67 in the first pairing of the day. He is three shots behind Jordan Spieth’s 64.

With playing partner Brian Harman, Hoffman whipped around the course in less than four hours.

The three-time PGA Tour winner is making his second Masters appearance. His first was in 2011. Hoffman won the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November to get back to Augusta.

“I’m an experienced TV watcher of the Masters,” he said. “It’s just a fun tournament to watch and all the great past champions, and I think it’s the one if I’m not in, I do tune in; it’s the hyped one.”

Hoffman will be a part of the highlights package after his four-hole closing stretch in the first round. He was 1-under for the day when he hit his 20-degree hybrid – a club that “fits that hole perfect,” he said – to 8 feet for eagle at the par-5 15th. After making birdie at No. 16 and par at No. 17, Hoffman hit a 6-iron to 5 feet to the back pin location at No. 18 for birdie.

Hoff­man hit eight of 14 fairways, but he recovered to find 13 greens in regulation. He played what he called “smart aggressive” and needed just 27 putts.

“Where I’m most proud, when I got out of position, I was able to get it back to where I had a putt at par and had the ability to get back on the green,” he said. “I think that’s the secret to this golf course. When you hit the fairways, you can be aggressive on this golf course. It’s not being too aggressive when you’re out of position.”

Hoffman is continuing the momentum he’s built in recent weeks. He led after the first round of the Texas Open and tied for 11th. He followed with a tie for 11th in the Houston Open just days ago.

“I’ve played well the past couple of weeks,” Hoffman said. “I feel good. I’m just trying to put myself in position come Sun­day more than anything. Hopefully, I’m there on Sunday. If I’m not, I had a great opening round. But I don’t see any reason why I won’t be there.”