2023 has indeed been a remarkable year for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, characterized by significant highs and daunting lows. The resilient golfer's performances in the FedEx Cup Playoffs and the Ryder Cup have underscored his tenacity and skill.
Hovland’s journey through the season has been nothing short of a storybook. He seized the FedEx Cup Playoffs title and impressed many with his ability to stay calm under pressure. His performance at the BMW Championship, where he closed with a final-round 61, and his triumph at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, cemented his status as one of golf’s rising stars. Entering the St. Jude Championship ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup standings, Hovland's ascent was a testament to his unyielding spirit and dedication to the sport.
However, the narrative was not always favorable. Hovland’s season also bore witness to struggles, particularly with his approach and strokes gained around the green. His strokes gained approach dropped to +0.46 per round, and he found himself ranked 175th out of 176 players on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. Add to this the frustration of only having one top-10 finish and experiencing the worst total strokes gained output of his career, the year was as challenging as it was rewarding.
Reflections and Adjustments
Hovland has been vocal about the changes he has tried to implement in his swing and the impacts they have had 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," he explained.
This conscious effort to tweak his swing, however, 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," said Hovland.
A Season of Lessons
The psychological toll of these technical struggles cannot be understated. "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 acknowledged candidly.
Despite these hurdles, Hovland’s outlook remains positive. "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."
Looking Forward
Hovland’s performance in the Ryder Cup this fall further showcased his resilience and potential. His sensational play contributed significantly to the competition, reinforcing the belief that he is on the path to reclaiming his best form.
As he continues to fine-tune his game and address the technical aspects that have posed challenges, the golfing world will undoubtedly be watching. Viktor Hovland's 2023 season is a potent reminder of the highs and lows inherent in professional sports, and his journey offers both inspiration and insight for golf enthusiasts and fellow professionals alike.
With the data and determination at his disposal, the future for Hovland appears bright, underscoring the essence of perseverance in the face of adversity.