2022 PGA Championship: Top 10 Power Rankings at Southern Hills

Viktor Hovland is steady as they come, both in demeanor and performance.

His ball-striking is almost always crisp. It allows him to make cut after cut.

The Norwegian comes to Southern Hills on a streak of five individual stroke play cuts made, as well as 12 in a row. Though he’s winless on the PGA Tour in 2022, he does have a win in the 2021-22 season when he defended his title at the Worldwide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.

Hovland was also victorious in February at the DP World Tour’s Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

He also arrives well-rested, having played just once since the Masters. Hovland and Collin Morikawa finished T-29th at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Southern Hills is a familiar venue for Hovland. He took T-7th in the individual portion of the 2018 Big 12 Championships, finishing behind notables like Kristoffer Ventura, Doug Ghim, Matthew Wolff, and Scottie Scheffler. Hovland did boast the low round of the tournament when he posted 4-under 66 in round two.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy still has residency in Stillwater.

Hovland’s made the short trek to Southern Hills several times in recent weeks.

That familiarity could be huge for a guy who’s played well at majors, just not his best.

Hovland was on pace to miss the cut when he was forced to withdraw due to injury at the 2021 U.S. Open. Technically, he’s never missed a cut in the other eight majors he’s played in. All eight results sandwich in between a personal best T-12th and a worst of T-32nd.

The 24-year-old is a ball-striking machine. He’s 12th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained off the tee (.588) thanks to top-50 marks in driving distance and driving accuracy.

Hovland’s also third in SG approach (1.019). He’s elite playing from the short grass, coming in at eighth in fairway proximity (29’5”).