2023 has been a rollercoaster year for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, whose journey through the professional golf circuit has been marked by incredible highs and challenging lows. With a series of impressive performances, Hovland has showcased his talent and determination, making headlines and securing prestigious titles throughout the season.
Hovland's year reached a peak when he clinched the FedEx Cup Playoffs title, a testament to his skill and perseverance. His consistent play was evident during the St. Jude Championship, where he completed three consecutive under-par rounds. Demonstrating his ability to handle pressure and perform at the highest level, Hovland's remarkable final-round 61 at the BMW Championship outside Chicago solidified his status as a rising star in the golfing world.
Continuing his stellar form, Hovland secured victory at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, with a postseason scoring average of an impressive 66.17. His standout performances did not end there; in the fall, Hovland delivered a sensational performance at the Ryder Cup, further cementing his reputation as a formidable competitor on the international stage.
Despite these successes, Hovland's season was not without its struggles. Entering the St. Jude Championship, he was ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, a position that reflected some of the challenges he faced throughout the year. Notably, Hovland's 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.
“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 candidly.
His off-season efforts to cut the ball more led to unforeseen consequences. "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."
These technical adjustments contributed to Hovland experiencing the worst total strokes gained output of his career. Moreover, he had just one top-10 finish for the season, revealing the extent of his struggles on the course. Nevertheless, Hovland’s determination to improve remained unwavering.
He poignantly described the mental toll of this challenging period. "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."
Hovland's reflections encapsulate the tumultuous nature of a professional golfer's career, where the quest for improvement is ceaseless. His optimism about future progress stands out amidst the adversity he has faced. "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."
The story of Viktor Hovland in 2023 is one of remarkable achievements interspersed with moments of introspection and learning. As he continues to navigate his career, the lessons learned from this tumultuous year will undoubtedly shape his future performances and fortify his resolve to excel in the world of professional golf.