Although he is not going through his best playing moment, the Norwegian Viktor Hovland is always one of the players to watch when important calendar events arrive. This week he faces the PGA Championship with mixed feelings about his game. He acknowledges that he has progressed since his victory at the Valspar, but at the same time, he admits that he is not completely satisfied with his performance and needs to keep improving in some areas.
He confirmed this at the official press conference he gave this Wednesday at Quail Hollow, ahead of the second Major of the season: “What makes me happy is the progress I’ve made since just before the Valspar, and even since then until now. I think I’m definitely heading in the right direction. But there’s still something there that doesn’t allow me to play at the level I want.” A quest that involves some important changes for Viktor…
“I feel like I’m reprogramming my brain for new movements,” he said. “If I see the ball doing what I want, it’s easier to get over how weird it feels. I try to separate what I feel from what the ball does objectively, because at the end of the day, we’re trying to play good golf,” the Norwegian explains. For Hovland, the challenge is not just a matter of repetition but identifying the root of the problem and modifying the pattern he has developed over the past few years.
This tendency of his to keep changing aspects of his game has generated some criticism, something he takes in stride: “Obviously, I would like the changes to be less complicated, but when I’m not where I want to be, adjustments have to be made.” He admits to having been “a bit too much of an explorer” at times, but defends his point of view: “I’m addicted to trying to improve because it has worked well for me in my career. But right now, there are key pieces that are preventing me from playing my best golf and I’m not happy. So I have to make changes. It is what it is.”
Hovland also referred to his results in the majors, something he views with an optimistic perspective. Last year, for instance, he feels he was close to winning despite not being at his peak level: “I barely played last year and almost won the tournament. So I see it as a great victory. I almost won a major championship without feeling good about my game.” Now, he is convinced that if he manages to find his playing technique, he will be in a position to fight for victory at Quail Hollow.
A tough course where Viktor highlighted those last three holes known as The Green Mile: “It’s just long. The 16th hole is very long, but relatively forgiving from the tee. However, the 17th is especially difficult with the water on the left, and the 18th allows no mistakes either to the right or the left.” A high demand that will test his level of play, especially with the driver, one of the clubs he has been struggling with recently and is working to improve.
