A Rollercoaster Year for Viktor Hovland: Triumphs and Trials
The year 2023 has proven to be nothing short of a tumultuous journey for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland. From reaching the pinnacle by clinching the FedEx Cup Playoffs title to navigating through the lows of performance struggles, Hovland's season was a testament to both his talent and tenacity.
Hovland entered the St. Jude Championship ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, a position that belied the potential he demonstrated throughout the year. His performance at the St. Jude Championship was nothing short of spectacular, achieving three consecutive under-par rounds, setting the stage for what would become a memorable postseason.
One of the most notable highlights of his season came at the BMW Championship outside Chicago, where Hovland delivered an impressive final-round 61. This performance laid the foundation for his eventual triumph at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, a victory that solidified his standing among golf's elite. Hovland's postseason scoring average of 66.17 speaks volumes about his consistency and skill during high-pressure moments.
Notably, Viktor Hovland also showcased his prowess on the international stage with a sensational performance at the Ryder Cup in the fall. Despite these accolades, the journey wasn't entirely smooth. His struggle with the technical aspects of his game presented significant challenges. Hovland's 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. This decline was coupled with the stark statistic of having just one top-10 finish in the season and experiencing the worst total strokes gained output of his career.
Reflecting on these struggles, Hovland candidly shared insights into the difficulties he faced. "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."
Hovland’s determination to improve led him to make significant adjustments in the offseason. "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," he explained.
Despite these adversities, Hovland's resilience was evident. He openly discussed the mental challenges that come with inconsistency on the course. "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."
Hovland's perspective on his journey forward remains grounded and optimistic. "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 the season unfolded, Hovland's journey was not merely about the victories and accolades but also about the resilience and determination he demonstrated in the face of obstacles. His capacity to reflect, adjust, and strive for improvement encapsulates his career in 2023 – a year marked by both incredible highs and profound learning experiences. Golf enthusiasts and analysts alike will surely be watching closely as Hovland continues to navigate his path in the sport, armed with the lessons and experiences of this rollercoaster year.