Viktor Hovland's Rollercoaster Year: Triumph and Challenges
In an extraordinary year marked by dramatic highs and testing lows, Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland has experienced the full spectrum of professional golf. The 2023 season was nothing short of a rollercoaster for Hovland, filled with impressive victories, disappointing setbacks, and hard-learned lessons.
Championship Success
Hovland's crowning achievement this year came with his clinching of the FedEx Cup Playoffs title. His performance throughout the playoffs was nothing short of stellar. At the St. Jude Championship, he started a remarkable stretch with three consecutive under-par rounds. This was followed by an exhilarating final-round 61 at the BMW Championship just outside Chicago, showcasing his immense talent and ability to perform under pressure.
Not stopping there, Hovland secured victory at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, solidifying his status as a top-tier golfer. His postseason scoring average of 66.17 was indicative of his consistent excellence during the critical stages of the season.
Ryder Cup Performance
Hovland's sensational performance at the Ryder Cup in the fall added another feather to his cap. His contributions were vital, and his display was a testament to his capability to excel on international stages. Despite facing stiff competition, Hovland emerged as a standout player for his team.
Persistent Struggles
However, not everything was smooth sailing for Hovland in 2023. Entering the St. Jude Championship, he was ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, a position that reflects the struggles he faced throughout the earlier part of the season. His strokes gained approach numbers fell to +0.46 per round, and he ranked a disappointing 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. For a golfer of his caliber, these statistics were far below expectations.
Adding to his challenges, Hovland had only one top-10 finish for the season, marking his worst total strokes gained output of his career. These figures underscore the difficulties he encountered, particularly in the areas of consistency and execution on the course.
Insights from Hovland
Reflecting on his season, Hovland disclosed insights into the technical changes he attempted and the subsequent impact on 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," he explained.
He went on to detail the consequences of his offseason adjustments. "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."
Hovland's candidness about the mental and practical challenges he faced offers a window into the often unseen trials of professional golf. "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," he admitted.
Despite the hurdles, Hovland remains optimistic about the path ahead. "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."
Viktor Hovland's 2023 season encapsulates the fluctuating nature of professional sports, where moments of glory are often interspersed with periods of doubt and rebuilding. His journey remains a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the face of adversity.