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Honda Classic: Top 10 power rankings at PGA National

By Mike Randleman

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 02: A detail of a tee marker during the third round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on March 02, 2019 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 02: A detail of a tee marker during the third round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on March 02, 2019 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO – FEBRUARY 23: Viktor Hovland of Norway poses with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Country Club on February 23, 2020 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO – FEBRUARY 23: Viktor Hovland of Norway poses with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Country Club on February 23, 2020 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Viktor Hovland is making his way to PGA National for the first time this week. Did that same circumstance matter last week in Puerto Rico?

Absolutely not.

While most eyeballs were tuned into Patrick Reed winning the WGC-Mexico, the bigger story in the grand scheme of things may have been Hovland’s win.

His maiden PGA Tour victory comes as little surprise. As an Oklahoma State Cowboy, the Norwegian helped his team to an NCAA team title in 2018. Hovland was an All-American and also won the 2018 U.S. Amateur in the summer.

Hovland and teammate Matthew Wolff were a dynamic duo that led OSU to one of the best regular seasons in college golf history in 2018-19, though title hopes fell just short.

These two now are both PGA Tour winners as Wolff won the 2019 3M Open.

Hovland fired 20-under in Cocoa Beach (68-66-64-70) to hold off journeyman Josh Teater by one. He was five clear of third place and rolled in a sizeable birdie putt on the 72nd hole.

Perhaps more impressive was it was the first PGA Tour for a Norwegian.

So far in his early career, Hovland has been a good quote. He lived up to that on Sunday when he described how things temporarily went south after a triple bogey on the par-3 11th.

"“I just suck at chipping,” Hovland told Golf Channel in his post-round interview. “I definitely need to work on my short game, and I was 100 percent exposed there on that hole.”"

He’s not just being modest. In eight measured rounds, Hovland is 232nd on Tour in strokes gained around the green (-.909). His short game will improve with his experience. Fortunately for him, he swings it like a 10-time winner.

Hovland is ninth on Tour in SG off the tee (.73) and 14th in SG approach (.747).

He’s got a T-10 this season at the Greenbrier as well as a T-11 at the European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship.

It can be dubious to ride a player the week after a win, but there’s still a lot for Hovland to play for. At No. 60 in the world, he’ll seek to remain inside the top 64 for the WGC-Match Play next month. A climb into the top 50 can earn him entry into the U.S. Open.

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