2023 has been a sensational yet turbulent year for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, a journey marked by unprecedented highs and unexpected challenges.
Dominating the FedEx Cup Playoffs
The pinnacle of Hovland's achievements came when he clinched the FedEx Cup Playoffs title, a testament to his sheer talent and determination. His performance included three consecutive under-par rounds at the St. Jude Championship, setting the stage for what would become a remarkable postseason run. Hovland put an exclamation point on his dominance with a final-round 61 at the BMW Championship outside Chicago, ultimately securing the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Throughout the playoffs, his scoring average was an impressive 66.17.
A Struggle with Consistency
Despite his tour de force during the playoffs, the year was not without its struggles. Entering the St. Jude Championship, Hovland was ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, a position that did not reflect his potential. His strokes gained approach numbers dipped to +0.46 per round, and he ranked an alarming 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. This inconsistency was also reflected in his career stats; he had just one top-10 finish for the season and experienced his worst total strokes gained output.
Ryder Cup Resurgence
However, Hovland's spirit was far from diminished. His incredible performance at the Ryder Cup in the fall showcased his ability to rise to the occasion on one of golf's most prestigious stages. This moment was crucial, proving to both fans and critics that he remains a formidable force in international golf.
The Struggles Behind the Scenes
When dissecting Hovland's season, it's clear that he faced significant hurdles, many of which were self-inflicted as he sought to refine his game. "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 explained.
His conscious effort to adjust his ball flight during the offseason inadvertently caused more harm than good. "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," he stated.
A Path Toward Improvement
Hovland's candid reflections reveal a golfer deeply involved in the technical aspects of his game, determined to emerge stronger. "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," he admitted. "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 difficulties, 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."
In conclusion, Viktor Hovland's 2023 journey encapsulates the peaks and valleys inherent in professional sports. His story is one of perseverance and relentless pursuit of excellence. While he scaled remarkable heights, his willingness to confront and address his struggles speaks volumes about his character and commitment to the game. The golf world waits with bated breath to see what the future holds for this talented Norwegian golfer.