BURBANK, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2014) — For the third
time in his decorated career, veteran Tim
Hogarth topped the SCGA Points List to earn
Player of the Year honors.
Hogarth narrowly edged out collegiate star Gunn
Yang, who won this year's U.S. Amateur.
Hogarth's year included second-place finishes at
both the SCGA Amateur Championship and SCGA
Mid-Amateur Championship, a semifinal
appearance at the SCGA Match Play
Championship and a T3 at the SCGA Public Links
Championship. In addition, Hogarth won the
2013 SCGA Tournament of Club Champions,
which due to its date on the calendar did factor
into the 2014 Points List.
We checked in with Hogarth to ask him about
the award, which will be officially given to him
at the SCGA Annual Meeting on Nov. 13.
What does it mean to win the SCGA’s Player
of the Year award?
I’m proud of the level of consistency I was able
to show this year. My track record has always
been full of very high highs and very low lows,
but this year I had a chance to win almost every
event I played in. It was difficult this year
coming close but not being able to win, but this
award makes the year seem like a success.
How would you recap your 2014 season?
I really enjoyed the tournaments this year. I was
involved in some great battles at the SCGA
Amateur, SCGA Mid-Amateur and SCGA Match
Play. I think I learned more about myself in
those events than all of the golf I’ve played in
my career.
You’ve now earned the SCGA Player of the
Year honor three times (2009, 2012, 2014).
What do you attribute to your consistent play?
It’s easy. I’ve been able to play well over a long
period of time because I have a great golf
instructor, Randy Peterson, who takes time out
of his schedule at Callaway to help me out
whenever things start to go wrong.
The past few SCGA majors (SCGA Amateurs,
really) have been dominated by young collegiate
players. However you still find yourself in the
running each time. What sets you apart from
other Mid-Ams?
I can’t really speak for the other Mid Ams,
however I know that the SCGA Amateur is a
more physical test than other events. You have
to be able to walk 36 holes the first day and
then come back on the second day, recovered,
and ready to play hard. That’s not easy to do. I
give all of this credit to my dedication to Muay
Thai (thai kickboxing) and to my instructor Julio
Trana. He has helped me push back the clock
and I feel better now than I did 20 years ago. I
know for a fact that helps me on the days that I
play 36 holes.
What has competing in SCGA events meant
to your golf career?
I made a decision a long time ago not to travel
around the country playing golf tournaments. I
like coaching my kids' teams and being at home,
so if it wasn't for the SCGA I wouldn't have had a
golf career. The SCGA made it possible for me
to compete in great tournaments and still live up
to my family responsibilities. I am very grateful
for the SCGA. Without it my life would be very
different.
What’s next for your golf career? What are
your goals now?
Honestly, I find this time in my life to be the
most confusing and difficult to figure out. On one
hand, I am perfectly happy to just continue living
the life I’ve been living, playing SCGA
tournaments and trying to do my best in USGA
events, but on the hand, I will be 49 next year
and the Champions Tour feels like the next
challenge that I should at least consider. The
next few years should be interesting.
