Scott Hoch was an 11-time winner on the PGA Tour who came within two feet of being a Masters champion.
Hoch, born in 1955 in Raleigh, North Carolina, was a top amateur golfer. In 1978, he made it to the finals of the U.S. Amateur at Plainfield Country Club in New Jersey where he lost to John Cook 5&4.
As a professional, Hoch was a consistent winnter. He captured the Quad Cities Open in 1980 for his first title and the Ford Championship at Doral in 2003 for his last PGA Tour win. He won one tournament every year from 1994 through 1997.
All of his wins though were second-tier titles. In the majors, he was a consistent threat from 1987 through 2002, recording 14 top 10 finishes. Unfortunately, his best chance to be a major champion is the tournament he'll be best remembered for.
In 1989, Hoch entered the final round a shot behind Ben Crenshaw. It was a classic Masters scramble that day with six different players holding a share of the lead.
Nick Faldo was five shots back to start the day, but he shot a spectacular 65 to take a -5 score to the clubhouse. Hoch took sole possession with a birdie on 15, but he missed a short par putt on 17 to fall back in to a tie with Crenshaw and Faldo.
On 18, Crenshaw bogied and Hoch had a 25-footer for birdie, but he missed. In the playoff, Faldo missed the 10th green with his second shot and ended up missing a 15-foot putt for par.
Hoch had played safe to the middle of the green and lagged his putt within two feet. His putt lipped out. On the 11th, Hoch was facing a 6-foot putt for par when Faldo made a 25-footer for birdie and his first major title.
