2023 has undoubtedly been a year of highs and lows for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland. From early struggles to a triumphant end, Hovland's journey through this rollercoaster season has been both exhilarating and instructive.
As the year started, Hovland was facing challenges that might have derailed many golfers. His strokes gained approach numbers had slipped to +0.46 per round, and he ranked 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. Moreover, he had just one top-10 finish in the season, marking the worst total strokes gained output of his career.
Speaking about his struggles, Hovland explained, "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."
This conscious effort to cut the ball more led to complications. Hovland continued, "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."
Despite these challenges, Hovland's resilience and determination were evident as the season progressed. He entered the St. Jude Championship ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings. What followed was a series of remarkable performances that not only secured his spot in the spotlight but also reshaped the narrative of his season.
Hovland completed three consecutive under-par rounds at the St. Jude Championship, setting the stage for an impressive postseason run. His efforts culminated in a final-round 61 at the BMW Championship outside Chicago, a display that left fans and commentators in awe.
But his journey didn't end there. Hovland clinched the FedEx Cup Playoffs title with his victory at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. His postseason scoring average of 66.17 underscored his exceptional play during the most critical stretch of the year.
Reflecting on his turnaround, Hovland said, "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."
Hovland's season of resurgence continued into the fall with a sensational performance at the Ryder Cup, where he contributed significantly to his team's efforts.
Throughout this period of recovery and success, Hovland remained introspective and analytical about his game. "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."
Another aspect of the golf circuit worth mentioning was the absence of Lucas Glover from the week’s tournament, a detail that contributed to the narrative around Hovland’s achievements and challenges.
By the end of 2023, Viktor Hovland had not only defied expectations but also provided a masterclass in perseverance and adaptability. His journey underscores the unpredictable nature of sports, where the lows can often serve as the foundation for the highest triumphs. While the future remains unwritten, Hovland's end-of-season surge serves as a testament to his talent and tenacity, qualities that will undoubtedly see him continue to make waves in the golfing world.