Viktor Hovland’s sport has grown tremendously within the final yr. He went from the PGA Tour participant who struggled along with his quick sport to capturing a 61 on the BMW Championship to win his first FedEx Cup playoff occasion. Now he’s No. 2 in FedEx Cup factors and can begin at 8-under for the Tour Championship.
This season has seen him develop as a participant on and off the course. The previous Oklahoma State Cowboy has reworked his quick sport, and it seems he trusts it greater than ever.
“Extra general confidence, I believe, extra peace. It helps with the ability to chip the ball,” Hovland mentioned. “Simply my all around game feels somewhat bit extra full.”
The 25-year-old’s worst end at a serious this yr got here in Los Angeles at L.A. Nation Membership. He completed nineteenth. Hovland was T7 in Augusta, T2 on the PGA Championship and T13 at The Open. On the season, the five-time PGA Tour winner has eight high 10s and 17 high 25s. He is likely one of the solely gamers to go 22-of-22 in occasions, not lacking a single lower.
“I believe amassing actually good experiences over the past yr, being in rivalry, failing in rivalry, being in rivalry and succeeding in rivalry,” Hovland mentioned. “I believe that’s been cool to attempt to be taught from any expertise, whether or not it’s not ending effectively on a Sunday or what occurred, what went fallacious, what can I be taught from it. I really feel like I’ve used these alternatives to get higher the subsequent time round.”
Two wins on the season on the Memorial and final week on the BMW Championship. These are a number of the most difficult tracks the PGA Tour performed this season, and Hovland made them look straightforward.
That skill to sort out the demanding programs comes from development and confidence.
“If you wish to get to the subsequent degree, it’s a must to look introspectively,” Hovland mentioned.
“You understand that, ‘Okay, after I’m in these moments and issues will not be going my means, I’m possibly reacting somewhat bit an excessive amount of to it.’ You could have a alternative whether or not you wish to react to that shot and make it have an effect on the subsequent shot or the subsequent few holes, or you should use that motivation or power into one thing higher.”
He has altered his mindset to assist on the course, and it’s taken work.
“I believe once you attempt to be sincere with your self and ask your self, ‘Okay, how can I get higher,’ I’ve to pressure myself to vary a few these mindset issues,” Hovland mentioned. “To some folks, it comes pure. It hasn’t come pure to me, no less than to that extent, in order that’s one thing I’ve to work on.”
The Memorial champion can have his finest begin at East Lake. Will that development assist him put his title within the historical past books as the subsequent FedEx Cup champion?
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. You’ll be able to comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. Make sure you try @_PlayingThrough too.
