2023 BMW Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Olympia Fields

Outside of the big three of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm, as well as the three other major champions, Viktor Hovland might be having the next best year.

He’s risen to No. 5 in the world ranking and has a win highlighting a highly consistent 2023. Hovland’s made strides in his short game and course management to raise his ceiling and rack up top-10s and top-20s.

The Norwegian has recorded eight straight top-30s. A T-13th result last week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship doesn’t reflect how he was in the tournament chase for about 63 holes.

He’s making his third appearance at Olympia Fields. Hovland first came in 2018 as a collegian at Oklahoma State where he took T-6th at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational.

Hovland returned as a pro in 2020 where he took T-40th at the BMW Championship.

The 25-year-old is 11th on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained per round (1.401). He’s inside the top 100 in every SG category, including off-the-tee where he’s eighth (.655).

Being able to muscle it out of the rough and make shots when out of position are keys this week. Hovland is third in average approach proximity from the rough (39’5”).

Not that he expects to be in the tall stuff often ranking a healthy 45th in driving accuracy (62.74%).

Hovland should be as well rested as anyone in the field this week. He took two weeks off prior to his two-week European swing and two more weeks after he got back before teeing it up in Memphis.

Last week likely sapped a lot out of the field, so I like Hovland’s youth to be an advantage this week.