2023 has undoubtedly been a whirlwind year for the Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, filled with soaring highs and challenging lows. Emerging as a formidable force in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, Hovland's journey throughout the year reflects both his remarkable prowess and the struggles inherent in the sport.
Highlighting Achievements
Viktor Hovland's performance this year reached a pinnacle as he clinched the FedEx Cup Playoffs title, a testament to his skill and determination. Demonstrating consistent excellence, he completed three consecutive under-par rounds at the St. Jude Championship. His prowess didn’t stop there; he delivered a stellar final-round 61 at the BMW Championship outside Chicago, further solidifying his status as a top-tier golfer. To crown it all, Hovland secured the Tour Championship in Atlanta, wrapping up his postseason with an impressive scoring average of 66.17.
Ryder Cup and Rankings
In the fall, Hovland's sensational performance at the Ryder Cup garnered widespread acclaim, bringing his year to a celebrated crescendo. However, his journey to these achievements was not without its hurdles. Entering the St. Jude Championship, he was ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, a position that reflects the volatility of his season. Lucas Glover's absence from the tournament might have impacted the dynamics, but for Hovland, the focus remained on his game.
Struggles and Adjustments
Notably, Hovland's season was marked by significant challenges, particularly in his technical game. His strokes gained approach numbers dipped to +0.46 per round, and he ranked 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. These statistics underscore the difficulties and inconsistencies he faced, culminating in just one top-10 finish over the season and the worst total strokes gained output of his career.
Reflecting on these struggles, Hovland candidly shared insights into his swing changes and the resulting impact on his performance. "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.
This conscious effort to modify his swing mechanics had unintended 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," Hovland revealed.
Future Aspirations
Despite the setbacks, Hovland's resilience and determination stand out. He acknowledged the arduous nature of competing when his ball control was off. "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," he lamented.
However, his commitment to improvement shines through. "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 concluded.
Viktor Hovland's 2023 season encapsulates the highs and lows that define the career of a professional athlete. His triumphs in the FedEx Cup Playoffs and Ryder Cup are balanced by the poignant struggles with his game. Yet, his unwavering dedication to improvement suggests that Hovland's best days on the golf course may still be ahead.