The case in summary
- Viktor Hovland is making a comeback in the Wells Fargo Championship after a lead-heavy spring season so far.
- After a break since the Masters in April, Hovland is back and expert Marius Thorp expects to see a hungry and improved Norwegian.
- Hovland, which won the FedEx playoffs last season, is now in danger of falling outside the top 70 that qualify for the playoffs.
- To find his way back to top form, Hovland has resumed collaboration with former coach Dana Dahlquist and is working on details in the golf swing.
The summary is made with artificial intelligence (AI) from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by TV 2’s journalists.
19th place in The Genesis is Hovland’s best result this season.
This weekend he can be found in the Wells Fargo Championship. Hovland has missed several tournaments and has not played since the Masters in April.
– I expect to see improvement – a Viktor who is eager to play and ready. It will be important to have a good experience to build momentum towards the summer.
That’s what Marius Thorp says. He follows the sport of golf closely through his expert role in Eurosport.
CAN GOLF: Marius Thorp. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle
Dramatic case
Last season, Ekeberg boy Viktor Hovland took the biggest victory of his career when he won the FedEx playoffs – and became over 190 million richer.
Relive the moment:
Less than a year later, he is number 100 – and is in danger of ending up outside the lucrative company.
Only the top 70 get the opportunity to fight for the very lucrative carrot in August.
Top 30 reach the final.
– We saw it last year: Justin Thomas, with two major titles, missed the top 70. It can happen to the best, but I think he (Hovland) is very keen to be there, says Thorp.
The Masters 2024 edition was a dark experience for Norway’s best golfer of all time:
He is working on this
So what is causing this downturn?
Hovland skimps on tiny details to get back to the good feeling in the golf swing.
Now he has found his way back to old coach Dana Dahlquist, who coached Hovland when he started on the PGA Tour in 2020. It is his third coach in a short time.
– The cool thing is that he knows my swing quite well from 2020 and the period we worked together, Hovland told Discovery.
THUMBS UP: Viktor Hovland has entered into a partnership with his third coach in a short time. Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images/AFP
– Viktor is trying to find a feeling he has had before, says Thorp.
– Why would he want to change something that works?
– That is a good question. If you want to get better, you have to seek development. You cannot then remain on the platform. It is quite normal that you want to make a few mistakes in such a marginal sport as golf. Everyone has done it, including Tiger (Woods) and Rory McIlroy.
At the press conference before the major at Augusta, Hovland tried to explain why he wants to make the change.
– I played well last year, but I was paid well. It didn’t necessarily feel sustainable.
– I took a long break after last season, and when I came back things were a little different. I had to find my way back to where I think I want to play my best golf. To be honest: I knew I played good golf, but it came as a surprise that I won the FedEx Cup.
VIERSHERRE: Viktor Hovland celebrates after the giant triumph last year. Photo: John Bazemore
Golf treats ahead:
9.-12. mai: Wells Fargo
16.-19. mai: PGA Championship (major)
6.-9. June: Memorial
13.-16. juni: U.S. Open (major)
18.-21. juli: The Open (major)
1.-4. august: OL i Paris
15.-18. august: FedEx Championship
22.-25. august: BMW Championship
29. august – 1. september: Tour Championship
– I just have to train. We’ll see how long it takes, Hovland said when asked when he expects to be back at his best.
Following the setback at Augusta, Hovland has therefore withdrawn from several tournaments. That doesn’t worry Thorp.
– But it is clear that with fewer tournaments, there will be fewer opportunities. Then there will be more pressure on certain tournaments. There aren’t that many left. It was a little surprising that he withdrew from it after the Masters, admits the golf expert.
Foto: CLIFF HAWKINS
He is quick to add:
– Things can change very quickly in golf. Viktor’s game was not quite at its best before the Memorial (victory), but afterwards most things went smoothly. So there are probably fewer indications that will happen now.
– What do you put in it?
– It depends on results and achievements. It has clearly been weaker. He is not at the same level compared to last year.
Thorp says about the coaching changes:
– I would not say that it is so common to change so often. That often is a bit unusual. It gets a bit like that when you’re looking for a good feeling.
MANY REPLACEMENTS: Viktor Hovland. Here with former coach Joe Mayo. Photo: CLIFF HAWKINS
– Thought it would turn around faster
– How do you feel about Viktor?
– I have seen that the confidence has not been the same as it was in August and the last half of last year’s season, Thorp replies.
On Thursday evening Norwegian time, Hovland goes out with Japanese Hideki Matsuyama and American Sahith Theegala. Large parts of the world‘s elite are present, with the exception of an expectant father in world number one Scottie Scheffler, and an injured Swedish comet named Ludvig Åberg.
– What is reassuring is all the effort he puts in. I see how hard he works both at and during tournaments to turn things around. But I would have thought it would turn around faster, because he is so good.
– It is clear to see that he has been frustrated, says expert Thorp.
PST! You can watch the tournament on Discovery+.