Hoffman has fun winning Classic

Urged on by friends and family, Charley Hoffman turned a fun week at the Bob Hope Classic into a breakthrough PGA Tour victory.

The San Diego native who lives in Las Vegas edged out fellow American John Rollins at the first extra hole of a playoff at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, California.
   
"All week I wasn't thinking about winning," Hoffman told reporters after clinching the title with a birdie-four at the 18th where Rollins could only par. "I came with the attitude, it's just a warm-up for the year. I haven't been playing too much and just taking it easy."
   
Asked how gruelling the final round had been with winds gusting, he replied: "I was fine all day. I was having fun out there. I don't know if it was me and (playing partner) Jeff (Quinney) talking, we were both playing pretty good. You're just trying to hang on out there and hit good shots.
   
"Even if the wind blows it into a bunker, just go there, find it and hit it again. You just try not to make double-bogeys because you know people are going to make bogeys out there."
   
The long-haired Hoffman, who looks more like a rock star than a professional golfer, relished playing the five-round pro-am celebrity event in front of so many of his close friends.
   
"My parents were here, my girlfriend, my girlfriend's parents and a lot of my dad's friends," the 30-year-old said. "Plus guys I grew up playing soccer with. My cousin also made it up.

"And I really enjoy this pro-am format. I like getting to meet new people and walking away with a bunch of new friends. A lot of guys don't like it but I'm going to keep playing in all of them that I can."
   
Hoffman, who only graduated to the PGA Tour last year from the feeder Nationwide Tour, set up his maiden victory in dramatic style with a birdie-eagle finish in regulation play.
   
That left him at 17-under 343, one ahead of Britain's Justin Rose and Rollins who had only the par-five 18th to come.
   
Rose, co-leader overnight and for much of the final round, parred the last to finish alone in third place while Rollins birdied to join Hoffman in a playoff.
   
"To tell you the truth, I thought Justin was going to run away with it," Hoffman said. "He's been playing well all year, played well last year and won in Australia."
   
Rose won the Australian Masters at Huntingdale two months ago, his first European Tour title in more than four years.
   
"I happened to be able to benefit from his misfortune of the day," Hoffman added. "Obviously it's a good misfortune for me."
   
The Bob Hope Classic champion returns to familiar haunts for next week's Buick Invitational outside his native San Diego, the fourth event on the 2007 PGA Tour.