What a couple of weeks it has been for Viktor Hovland, one of the PGA tours youngest and greatest golfers. Lets take a look back at how Viktor dominated the last month of the PGA Tour’s Season.
Viktor started the season off a little slow, at one point he was out of the top 30 in the FedEx cup rankings, but that quickly changed about halfway through the season. He kept racking up points and at the right time started winning. Viktor has for sure made a case for player of the year, something that most thought was locked up for Jon Rahm.
It was truly an amazing season for Hovland. Viktor had nine top-10s and 17 top-25 finishes with no missed cuts. In the major championships, his worst was a tie for 19th at the U.S. Open.
It all came to a close yesterday in Georgia at East Lake. The tour championship saw the top 30 players in the rankings go for a first place prize of 18 million dollars. The tour championship starts off with staggered scoring, depending on where you were in the standings.
Viktor began 2 shots back of Scottie Scheffler. By Saturday Viktor had the lead and never looked back. He ended up with a 6 shot lead going into Sunday’s round. He was able to stay clear of the field and birdie 18 for an amazing 63 and the win. So, Viktor won two of the playoff tournaments and the FedEx cup, giving him 18 millions dollars and close to 25 million for 2 weeks. Not a bad paycheck.
When asked how he will spend some money, Viktor told reports that he lives in Stillwater Oklahoma and money goes a long way there. He said, he doesn’t need much to be happy, this is another reason why people love him so much.
Here are some highlights from his Tour win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNxcAqnxGeU
MY THOUGHTS:
As an avid golfer who shoots low to mid 80s I find watching him play golf as an honor. Viktor is everything that is right with golf and the PGA tour right now. He can hit the ball a mile, control is irons and seems to make any putt you throw at him. Of the course is has shown his personality as a goofy 25 year old who loves the game. One thing I thought was so impressive this weekend was his ability to stay on the gas and not give anyone and inch.
Sunday things got a little close on the back nine, but Viktor kept making par after par, if you know golf than you know sometimes that is all you need.
Here is some more on the breakthrough year. And I don’t think it will be long before we call him a major champion.
Here is my last thing on Viktor, he as played 12 rounds straight in the 60’s. As an armature golfer, that is a wild stat to see. Really an amazing stat to see!
LIV v. PGA
Honestly I have stayed pretty quite when it comes to the LIV tour vs. The PGA Tour but I figured this is a good place to comment on it. I understand there might be a merger of the two in the future but for now, I still have to lean towards the PGA. I understand LIV has their season race for first place, but I am sorry, there is nothing like watching the FedEx cup playoffs. One putt could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars and status for next year. I have always loved the PGA tour and watching live seems like you are watching practice. I think there is more in terms of successes and failures in the PGA Tour.
For example, I think if some of the LIV guys were playing better at the time they signed, they would have never left the PGA tour. Brooks Koepka is the first that comes to mind.
Anyway it was an amazing weekend to be a golf fan and now I cannot wait for the Ryder Cup in Italy this year. The United States will go for 3 in a row!
