2023 has been a rollercoaster year for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, marked by exhilarating highs and challenging lows. Hovland's journey through the golfing season has been nothing short of dramatic, with notable victories as well as some stark struggles.
The standout moments of Hovland's year include clinching the prestigious FedEx Cup Playoffs title, a testament to his resilience and skill. The Norwegian star's under-par rounds at the St. Jude Championship set the stage for what would be a remarkable postseason. Hovland’s crowning achievement came with a spectacular final-round 61 at the BMW Championship just outside Chicago, solidifying his claim to greatness.
However, the pinnacle of his season was undoubtedly his triumph at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, where he showcased his unwavering determination and precision. Hovland's postseason scoring average of 66.17 vividly illustrates his exceptional form during the critical stages of the competition.
Adding to his list of accomplishments, Hovland delivered a sensational performance at the Ryder Cup in the fall, further cementing his status as an elite golfer. But his journey to success was not without its challenges.
Hovland entered the St. Jude Championship ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, a position that belied his potential. The Norwegian's path to victory was also eased by the absence of Lucas Glover from the tournament. Despite these circumstances, Hovland faced significant setbacks.
Struggles Amidst Triumphs
One of the more glaring issues Hovland dealt with was a decline in his strokes gained approach numbers, which fell to +0.46 per round. Moreover, he ranked a disheartening 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. Such statistics underscore the areas where Hovland needs improvement, despite his evident talent.
Hovland's candid reflections on his struggles provided further insight into his journey. "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 explained.
His conscious efforts to cut the ball more in the offseason led to unforeseen complications. "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 Path Forward
Hovland's struggles extended to his confidence on the course as well. "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."
Despite these challenges, Hovland remains hopeful and focused on improvement. "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."
As Viktor Hovland continues to refine his game and rebuild confidence, golf enthusiasts around the world can look forward to more thrilling performances from the talented Norwegian. His perseverance in the face of adversity is a reminder of the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines the world's greatest athletes.