2023 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland. This year has solidified his reputation as one of golf’s emerging stars and showcased his resilience in the face of adversity. His journey through the season has been a testament to his skill, determination, and the mental toughness required to compete at the highest level.
Hovland's stellar performance in the FedEx Cup Playoffs was a highlight, culminating in a victory that many will remember. He clinched the FedEx Cup Playoffs title with a remarkable display of consistency and prowess. Notably, Hovland completed three consecutive under-par rounds at the St. Jude Championship, which served as a precursor to his season-defining achievements.
The BMW Championship outside Chicago saw him deliver a final-round 61, a performance that highlighted his golfing excellence. This remarkable feat was followed by securing the Tour Championship in Atlanta, solidifying his stature within the professional golfing community. Over the postseason, Hovland's scoring average was a stunning 66.17, underscoring his dominance during crucial stages of the competition.
The Ryder Cup in the fall was another stage where Hovland shone brightly, delivering a sensational performance that contributed significantly to his team. His ascent to these stellar heights, however, was not without its challenges. Entering the St. Jude Championship, he was ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, indicating the uphill battle he faced.
Remarkably, Hovland’s season was marred by struggles in certain aspects of his game. Despite his successes, his strokes gained approach numbers fell to +0.46 per round, and he ranked 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. This was an unusual plight for such a talented golfer, presenting a paradox of brilliance and struggle within the same season.
Hovland himself opened up about these challenges and their 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." His candidness offers a glimpse into the mind of a professional athlete constantly striving for perfection and battling the mental game just as fiercely as the physical one.
His offseason efforts to adjust his swing brought unintended consequences, complicating his ability to control the ball. "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 explained.
Despite these technical struggles, Viktor Hovland's tenacity never wavered. His reflections on the mental toll of these challenges are profound. "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,” he said. “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 ability to analyze and address his setbacks so methodically speaks volumes about his commitment to growth. "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," he emphasized.
In essence, Viktor Hovland’s 2023 season encapsulates the highs and lows that define a professional athlete's career. His journey from technical struggles to victories in major tournaments highlights both his tenacity and talent. As he continues to navigate the complexities of professional golf, his resilience and determination will undoubtedly keep him in the spotlight, providing fans and aspiring golfers alike with a figure of unwavering resolve and elite performance.