Charley Hoffman makes Las Vegas his home.
He played his collegiate golf at UNLV.
When tragedy struck last month in his hometown, he knew what he had to do this week.
“When you look at how our first responders performed, how everyone helped each other, this is the least I could do,” said Hoffman, who will donate his entire earnings from this week’s Shriners event. “It just feels great to be here and to be able to help out a little.”
Hoffman got off to a nice start Thursday in what he hopes will be a run that produces a big check come Sunday. He shot a three-under par 68 and found himself just three back of leader Whee Kim.
You look at the top of the leaderboard and it sounds like noises someone might make in their sleep: Whee- Spaun- Blaum- Huh.
That would be Kim at 65, Ryan Blaum (66), J.J. Spaun (66) and John Huh (66), members of the “who are they?” club.
There are some recognizable names as well. Former FedEx Cup champ Billy Horschel shot 67, so did mad scientist Bryson DeChambeau. Tony Finau and Ernie Els were in at 69, two-under par around the windy TPC Summerlin layout.
Defending champion Rod Pampling, who opened with a blistering 60 last year, was 10 shots higher this year.
Some of the bigger names were so-so.
Former U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson shot 70, 2016 PGA Champion Jimmy Walker struggled with 73 and Bubba Watson, who came in early from vacation time, shot a one-over par 72.
