A year later, he was asked about his hair. "I've had it this long for about two-and-a-half, three years now, growing it," he said. "I guess I do it just to sort of be different than everybody else ...

Charley Hoffman reflects as he prepares to make 500th TOUR start at Valero Hoffman’s first start came 30 years ago at the 1994 Farmers Insurance Open as a long-haired 16-year-old high schooler.

“The Charley Hoffman with the long hair and trying to become a PGA Tour player and star, I think I was just dumb enough to think I could do it. I thought I could compete with the best in the world.