2023 has undoubtedly been a whirlwind year for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, marked by both incredible highs and significant challenges.
A Season of Triumphs
Hovland's year reached a crescendo when he clinched the FedEx Cup Playoffs title, a testament to his skill and tenacity. In a stunning display of golfing prowess, he completed three consecutive under-par rounds at the St. Jude Championship, signaling his return to top form. Not stopping there, Hovland delivered an awe-inspiring final-round 61 at the BMW Championship outside Chicago, which was followed by his securing the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Such performances helped him post a remarkable postseason scoring average of 66.17, underscoring his dominance.
The golfer's sensational run didn't end with the FedEx Cup. Later in the fall, Hovland showcased his exceptional talent at the Ryder Cup, adding another feather to his cap.
Early Struggles and Analytical Approach
However, Hovland's journey to success wasn't a straightforward path. Entering the St. Jude Championship, he was ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings. Throughout the season, he faced numerous hurdles, including falling to a strokes gained approach of +0.46 per round and ranking 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. His struggles were evident, culminating in a season that yielded just one top-10 finish and the worst total strokes gained output of his career.
In reflective moments, Hovland critiqued his own game, admitting, "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."
A Quest for Consistency
Hovland's determination to refine his game led him to deliberate changes during the offseason. "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," he explained. He acknowledged the process of recovery and improving his technique, recognizing the value of having precise data and facts to guide him.
The challenges of playing consistent golf are not merely physical but also mental. "It's just not that fun to play golf when you don't know where the ball is going," Hovland confessed. "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."
Looking Ahead with Renewed Confidence
Despite the hurdles, Hovland remains resilient and focused on the future. His hard work and introspective approach seem to be paying off, as he noted, "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."
Indeed, the path to golfing greatness is rarely smooth. However, Hovland's persistence, analytical mindset, and unwavering commitment to improvement suggest that the future holds even more remarkable achievements for the talented Norwegian golfer. As he continues to refine his game and build on his experiences, the golfing world will undoubtedly watch with keen interest and high expectations.