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Viktor Hovland: Talented 23-Year Old Poised for Breakout 2021 Season

By Michael Ellis

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) /
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Viktor Hovland isn’t like most 23-year olds. He knows exactly what’s in store for him as his professional career is set to take off: PGA Tour and European Tour wins, Major Championships and Ryder Cup appearances.

Earlier this year, Viktor Hovland notched his first PGA Tour victory at the Puerto Rico Open with a birdie on the 72nd hole to finish at 20-under par. Fresh off his second career PGA Tour win last week at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, with another coincidental birdie on the 72nd hole to finish at 20-under par, Hovland is poised for a massive breakout season in 2021.

Hovland boasts some impressive collegiate and amateur accolades, making his early success since turning professional in 2019 far from a surprise. After the first-team All American helped guide Oklahoma State University to an NCAA team National Championship in 2018, Hovland went on to win the 118th U.S. Amateur Championship at the age of 20, 6 and 5, over Devon Bling.

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Then, in 2019, Hovland took home low amateur honors at the Masters finishing at 3-under par and T32 overall. In the same year, Hovland would go on to claim low amateur at the 119th U.S. Open held at Pebble Beach with a score of 280. Hovland’s 4-under par 280 is the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur at the U.S. Open since Jack Nicklaus’ 282 in 1960.

Hovland, now 15th in the Official World Golf Rankings, has the makings of a player primed for stardom. At just 23-years old, Hovland’s consistent play during the early portion of the 2021 season is led by his strokes gained off-the-tee and his strokes gained tee-to-green. Via PGA Tour statistics, Hovland ranks 11th and 21st respectively in those categories. Being at the top of those categories simply gives Hovland more chances to score, evident by his 69.181 scoring average, which ranks 6th on Tour through the 2021 season.

Although Hovland has not faired particularly well overseas at European Tour events, his best score was a T23 in January of 2020 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, UAE. While his main focus will be continuing to hone in on his game in the States, the Norwegian-born Hovland has plenty of time to work through the ebbs and flows of Tournaments on both circuits, albeit limited (i.e. Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy).

Given his early professional career success, coupled with his No. 15 Official World Golf Ranking, Hovland seems like a lock to make the 2021 European Ryder Cup team as a qualifier or captain’s pick. Hovland has all the makings of a European Ryder Cup stalwart for years to come; battling the likes of team USA’s Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas for the next decade.

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The 23-year old Hovland (with an NCAA team National Championship, U.S. Amateur Championship and two career PGA Tour wins under his belt) is staring down a big-time breakout 2021 season, featuring multiple Tour wins, Major Championship contention, and his first team Europe Ryder Cup appearance, all with that ear-to-ear smile made famous by the young Norwegian.

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