From Norway to Oklahoma State
Hovland started playing golf at the age of 11, after his father Harald, who worked as an engineer in St. Louis, introduced him to the game. He quickly showed his potential, winning the Norwegian Amateur Golf Championship as a 16-year-old in 2014. He then moved to the United States to play college golf at Oklahoma State University, where he teamed up with fellow Norwegian Kristoffer Ventura.Viktor Hovland’s first meal after the win? Chipotle. pic.twitter.com/9uX8QyO55Z
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 28, 2023
A Historic Amateur Career
Hovland made history in 2018, when he became the first Norwegian to win the U.S. Amateur Championship, earning invitations to the 2019 Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship. He was the low amateur at the Masters, finishing tied for 32nd, and rose to number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He then broke the record for the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur in the U.S. Open, finishing 12th at Pebble Beach. He was the first player to win low amateur honors at both the Masters and U.S. Open in the same season since Matt Kuchar in 1998. He also won the Ben Hogan Award, given to the best college player in the United States.A Rapid Rise on the PGA Tour
Hovland turned professional after the 2019 U.S. Open, and made his debut at the Travelers Championship. He secured his PGA Tour card for the 2019–20 season by finishing tied for second in the Albertsons Boise Open, part of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. He then became the first Norwegian to win on the PGA Tour, when he won the 2020 Puerto Rico Open. He added his second title later that year at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.Viktor Hovland. That's the tweet. #TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/u3IuNo7nDi
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2023
A Breakthrough Year in 2021
Hovland continued his impressive form in 2021, becoming the first Norwegian to win on the European Tour, when he won the BMW International Open, holding off former world number one Martin Kaymer. He also made his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits, becoming the first player from Norway to represent Europe, and contributed three points to the team’s victory. He ended the year with his fifth professional win at the Hero World Challenge, coming back from a six-stroke deficit in the final round.A Dominant Season in 2023
Hovland started the 2023 season with a bang, winning his first Rolex Series event at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, defeating Richard Bland in a playoff. He then won his fourth PGA Tour title at the Memorial Tournament, beating Denny McCarthy in a playoff, just two weeks after finishing runner-up at the PGA Championship. He capped off the season with a stunning performance, winning the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship in back-to-back weeks, becoming the fifth international player to win the FedEx Cup. He also returned to the Ryder Cup, where he formed a formidable partnership with rookie Ludvig Åberg, winning both their foursomes matches, including a record 9&7 victory over world number one Scottie Scheffler and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka. He also beat Collin Morikawa in the singles, helping Europe regain the Ryder Cup. He ended the year ranked third in the world, behind only Jon Rahm and Morikawa.Viktor Hovland won $18 million this afternoon — then got asked how much he thinks about money.
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) August 28, 2023
Loved his answer: pic.twitter.com/aASGSMYRFX
A Bright Future Ahead
Hovland has already achieved more than most golfers can dream of, but he is not satisfied yet. He has his sights set on winning his first major, and becoming the world number one. He has the talent, the work ethic, and the personality to do so. He is also a great ambassador for golf in Norway, and an inspiration for the next generation of players. He is undoubtedly one of the brightest stars in the game, and one to watch for years to come.Sources: en.wikipedia.org | europeantour.com | sportingnews.com | europeantour.com | livesportworld.com | gettyimages.com