CJ Cup: Top 10 power rankings at The Club at Nine Bridges

What Viktor Hovland is doing right now is nothing short of remarkable. The 22-year-old is working on a PGA Tour record 17 straight rounds in the 60s. He had a run of 19 in a row worldwide before carding two 70s on the weekend at the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour.

If Hovland breaks 70 Thursday at the CJ Cup, he’ll have the PGA Tour record to himself. He shares it with Bob Estes.

The Oklahoma State University product finished T-32 at the Masters and T-12 at the U.S. Open thanks to his 2018 U.S. Amateur win. As a pro, he’s made nine cuts in as many events with a solo fourth at the Wyndham Championship his top finish.

Hovland had five top-25s and nearly earned his PGA Tour Card. He instead had to go through Korn Ferry Tour Finals to get it. That caused some consternation in the golf world as it was clear he belonged on Tour, but he went ahead and finished T-11 and T-2 in the first two of three KFT Finals events to receive his card.

He opened the 2019-2020 season with a T-10 at A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier.

His last start was a T-11 at the BMW PGA.

This will be Hovland’s CJ Cup debut. He’s obviously fared well when playing courses for the first time before, and that’s because his game suits most layouts.

Hovland didn’t post enough rounds to qualify for the 2018-19 PGA Tour ranks. If he did, he’d be near the top in strokes gained off the tee (1.058) and SG approach (.947).

His only negatives were on and around the greens, but those weak spots are covered up when you’re hitting 73.61% GIR and have birdie tries galore.

Hovland was a frequent winner as an amateur. It shouldn’t be long before he picks up a trophy as a pro.