2023: A Defining Year for Viktor Hovland
The year 2023 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland. From an impressive postseason surge to personal struggles with his swing, Hovland’s journey has been a compelling narrative of highs and lows.
**Achieving Milestones: FedEx Cup Playoffs and Tour Championship**
One of the defining highlights for Hovland this year was clinching the coveted FedEx Cup Playoffs title. This triumph came on the back of several stellar performances, most notably at the St. Jude Championship where he completed three consecutive under-par rounds. Hovland showcased his prowess further at the BMW Championship outside Chicago, carding a remarkable final-round 61 that solidified his place among the elite.
The crescendo of his postseason run was undoubtedly his victory at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. With a postseason scoring average of 66.17, Hovland demonstrated a level of consistency and excellence that few could match. This remarkable achievement not only cemented his status as one of the top golfers of the year but also highlighted his ability to perform under pressure.
**A Sensational Ryder Cup Performance**
Adding to his list of accomplishments, Hovland had a sensational showing at the Ryder Cup in the fall. His performance at one of golf’s most prestigious events underscored his competitive spirit and skill, further endearing him to fans and peers alike.
**Struggles and Adjustments: The Other Side of the Coin**
Despite these notable achievements, Hovland’s year was also marked by significant struggles. Entering the St. Jude Championship, he was ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings. His strokes gained approach numbers had fallen to +0.46 per round, and he was ranked 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green.
Reflecting on his difficulties, Hovland candidly shared, "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."
His journey through these challenges was not easy. "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," Hovland explained. "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 mental toll of his inconsistent performance was evident. "It's just not that fun to play golf when you don't know where the ball is going. 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."
**Looking Ahead with Optimism**
Despite the setbacks, Hovland remains optimistic about his future. "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."
2023 may have been a year of contrasts for Viktor Hovland, but it is evident that he has both the talent and the determination to overcome his challenges. Golf fans around the world will undoubtedly be watching with keen interest as he continues his journey.