2023 has proven to be a pivotal year for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland. The young star experienced significant highs and lows, securing remarkable victories while facing considerable challenges.
Hovland's most notable achievement came when he clinched the FedEx Cup Playoffs title. This triumph was the culmination of a series of impressive performances during the postseason. He began by completing three consecutive under-par rounds at the St. Jude Championship, demonstrating his formidable form and skill. The momentum continued to build as he delivered a sensational final-round 61 at the BMW Championship outside Chicago.
Riding on this wave of success, Hovland went on to secure the Tour Championship in Atlanta, solidifying his place among the golfing elite. His postseason scoring average stood at an impressive 66.17, reflecting his consistency and excellence under pressure. These feats were accompanied by a stellar performance at the Ryder Cup in the fall, further establishing Hovland as a force to be reckoned with.
Despite these highs, Hovland's journey through 2023 was not without its difficulties. Entering the St. Jude Championship, he was ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, far from the top of the leaderboard. Additionally, his technical game faced scrutiny. For instance, his strokes gained approach numbers fell to +0.46 per round, and he ranked a concerning 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. These metrics highlighted the areas in need of improvement and possibly contributed to a season with only one top-10 finish.
Reflecting on his struggles, Hovland candidly shared insights into his challenges. "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," he explained.
During the offseason, Hovland made a conscious effort to adjust his swing. "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," he admitted. "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."
These technical challenges, combined with the mental strain of unpredictable gameplay, took a toll on Hovland's morale. "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," he said. "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."
Nevertheless, Hovland remains optimistic about his future in golf. "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," he remarked. "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."
As Hovland continues to refine his game and regain his confidence, the golfing world watches with anticipation. His journey through 2023 has been one of resilience and determination, marking a critical chapter in what promises to be a storied career.