2023 has been nothing short of a whirlwind year for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland. The talented young golfer has seen peaks and valleys throughout a season that has tested his resilience and showcased his skill and commitment to the sport.
Hovland's journey through the FedEx Cup Playoffs was a testament to his perseverance. Entering the St. Jude Championship ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, he had his work cut out for him. But in true Hovland fashion, he delivered, clinching the FedEx Cup Playoffs title after a series of impressive performances.
Stellar Performances: St. Jude and BMW Championships
Hovland's showing at the St. Jude Championship was a pivotal moment. Completing three consecutive under-par rounds, he set the stage for what would become a remarkable playoff run. His tenacity shone through once more at the BMW Championship outside Chicago, where he achieved a sensational final-round 61.
Continuing his stellar form, Hovland claimed victory at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. His postseason scoring average of 66.17 underscored his consistent brilliance and ability to deliver under pressure. Such performances exemplified why he is regarded as one of the sport's brightest stars.
Challenges and Triumphs
Despite these high points, Hovland's season was not without its challenges. His strokes gained approach numbers fell to +0.46 per round, and he ranked 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. He had just one top-10 finish in the season, experiencing the worst total strokes gained output of his career.
Reflecting on these struggles, Hovland remarked, "The things that I did in my swing that made me good, that made me able to predict a certain ball flight, I went home and tried to do a certain move – not necessarily because I had in mind that I wanted to change my pattern. I knew my pattern was really good, but I was upset that I wasn't cutting the ball as much as I would have liked."
He added, "Then in the offseason, I made a conscious effort to try to cut the ball more, and when I did that, I ruined a relationship that happens in my swing that makes it really difficult for me to control the face coming down. So now it's just kind of me learning from that. I know exactly why it happened. I know exactly what happens because I've gotten myself measured, and now it's just kind of a process of getting back to where I was. But at least I know I have all the data and the facts on the table to go about it."
The Road Ahead
Finding consistency has not been an easy task for Hovland. "It's just not that fun to play golf when you don't know where the ball is going," he admitted. "I do pride myself in trying to make the best out of it, but it gets to a point where you kind of lose that belief – you just see a shot, and that's not good enough. I can try to grind my hardest. I can try to chip in from there. But you do that too often, too many times during the course of a round or a tournament, [and] it's too much to overcome. I feel like it's a waste of time for me to be playing golf if that's where I'm at; I'd rather be off the golf course and work on it, trying to figure out why I'm doing those things."
Hovland's struggles culminated in a moment of introspection. "I'm not sure how long it's going to take for me to play my best golf. It might be this week. It might be next week. But at least now I'm on a path to progress. I'm on a path to improvement. Whereas before, one thing is playing bad, but you don't know why and you don't know how to fix it. That's very challenging mentally. But at least now we're – I might play terrible this week, but at least I feel like I'm on a path to improvement, and that's all that kind of matters for me."
Rise at the Ryder Cup
Despite the hurdles, the highlight of Hovland's season came in the fall at the Ryder Cup, where he delivered a sensational performance. His contributions were crucial and demonstrated the growth and resilience that have come to define his career.
With the conclusion of a tumultuous season, Viktor Hovland stands as a testament to the highs and lows that come with professional sports. His journey through the FedEx Cup Playoffs, his struggles on and off the course, and his ultimate resurgence at the Ryder Cup embody the spirit of a true competitor.
As Hovland continues to navigate the challenges of professional golf, fans and analysts alike remain optimistic, confident that his path to improvement will lead to even greater successes in the seasons to come.