In college, Hoffman was a member of the 1998 NCAA Championship team at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was an honorable mention All-American in the same year. While at UNLV, his team-mates included Chris Riley, Chad Campbell, Bill Lunde and Adam Scott. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in Communications and turned pro that same year.
Hoffman won his first PGA tour event by defeating John Rollins after he birdied the first hole in a playoff.
The American then won his second PGA Tour event at the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston. This victory helped Hoffman to finish 25th on the money list, the first time he finished inside the top 30.