Morgan Hoffmann returned to competitive action this week at the RBC Heritage, two-and-a-half years after his last appearance at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children Open, and the golf world was more than interested to see how he got on.

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Diagnosed with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy at the end of 2017, the 32-year-old has been living in Costa Rica since his departure from the PGA Tour, searching and using ‘alternative’ methods to control the condition, now on his way to somehow controlling what is usually a debilitating illness.

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Now on his 16th of 18 medical exemptions granted by the tour, Hoffmann knows he needs to do something good, and something soon to keep his card, and very few could have envisaged such an encouraging opening round: a level-par 71.

His playing partners were always going to be asked, and when reporters asked Harold Varner III for his opinion on Hoffman’s return and first 18 holes, he commented honestly:

“He’s still good at golf. It’s like riding a bike. Obviously it’s going to take a while to get the rust off, but it’s just good to see him,” he said.

“The last time I saw him was actually here, probably three years ago here.”

“We played together, and he wanted to go fly and watch the Canes play and then come back and play a round. I’m like, no, I’m good man.”

Had Varner seen anything different in Hoffmann’s game?

“I did not, but I’m not a very aware person, never have been. I’m out there to beat Morgan.”

“I don’t really care — I get that he’s been through a lot, but everyone on this planet’s going to go through something, and that’s his battle.”

“My battle may come down the road later.”

“When you’re on the golf course, it’s time to compete. I want to win. I don’t know. That’s kind of messed up, but it is what it is.”

Take that as you see fit, but it seemed certainly more of an insistence that he was here to play his own game and win, rather than a slur on his returning playing partner.

One golf magazine, Golfweek, took the chance to make a headline from it, though, making the play more that Varner didn’t care about Hoffmann’s long-term issues, titling a piece “Harold Varner III on Morgan Hoffman’s return: “I don’t really care…that’s his battle”‘

However, Justin Thomas, never a shrinking violet on social media, was one of the first to pick up on the headline:

Nice headline here… really??? ?????

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) April 15, 2022

The headline was removed, and whilst much of the golf world was arguing about the worth of the so-called ‘clickbait,’ Varner was making more headlines.

The 31-year-old, winner of the Saudi International in February, followed his first round 67 with a bizarre second 18.

At the sixth hole, he was embroiled in a row whether a spectator had moved his ball from in bounds to out of bounds, ultimately costing him a double-bogey six, a contribution to an angry round of 72 containing five birdies, two bogeys and a pair of doubles.

On Saturday, Varner flew through the field to lead after 54 holes, his tournament best of 63 comprising eight birdies and 10 pars, before he fell one short of the deciding play-off last night, his final 36-foot putt just sliding by the edge of the 18th hole.

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