Viktor Hovland returns to the Valspar Championship with the memory still very fresh of his victory in 2025, but with very different feelings about his game. The Norwegian, the tournament’s defending champion, admits his current level is far from ideal, especially off the tee, although he finds reasons for optimism in his ability to compete even amid those difficulties
“It was a very special week,” he recalled about his triumph last year at Innisbrook. “I had shot an 80 the previous week and had been struggling a lot with my game. I found something at least with the irons, I was very patient and relied heavily on the putter. It was very sharp at the key moments,” he explained. That victory, coming back from a Justin Thomas who had held a three-shot lead, marked one of the standout moments of his recent career. However, twelve months on, the scene is different
Hovland arrives at the Copperhead Course having posted two consecutive top-15 finishes, at the THE PLAYERS Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but with a very clear self-critique of his performance: “It’s good to see the results going in the right direction. But I’m still struggling a lot off the tee. I feel like I’m doing a great job compensating for those shortcomings. I’ve competed well, but I need to find a feel with the long clubs, both off the tee and into the green”
The Norwegian admits his game has been more effective than brilliant. His ability to get results in uncomfortable weeks has been his main lifeline: “I feel my scoring game is in a good place. I just need to find some predictability with the long clubs. If I get that, I’ll be in a very good position”
The challenge, of course, will not be easy. The layout at Innisbrook demands precisely what he struggles with most right now: accuracy off the tee. A narrow course, with fairways tightly guarded by trees, dense rough and small greens that punish any mistake. “It’s a very narrow course off the tee, with trees on both sides, so it really favours accuracy. If the wind blows and they place the pins near the edges, it’s very difficult to attack. The centre of the green is often a good option. It’s a course that demands everything: ball striking, accuracy and a very sharp short game”, he analysed
Besides the technical challenge, Hovland also arrives carrying some accumulated load. The Valspar will be his sixth week of competition in seven, in the middle of the Florida Swing, something that’s beginning to take its toll: “It’s a big tournament load. I like to play a lot early in the year to get into rhythm, but you can also feel the mental wear. Still, this is a tournament I don’t want to miss, especially as the defending champion”
That self-demand also explains his way of working. Hovland admits he finds it hard to switch off, especially when he feels his game isn’t where it should be: “I’d like to take a Monday off sometimes, but it’s difficult when you feel you haven’t earned it. I’m always trying to solve problems, trying new things. If I have an idea, I want to go to the course and check if it works”
That approach connects directly with another characteristic trait of the Norwegian: his constant search for improvement. Hovland does not hesitate to surround himself with different voices and technical approaches in his development as a player: “Golf is constantly evolving. I’m a curious person and there are a lot of intelligent people out there. If I feel I’m missing something, I look for other perspectives that might suit me. Then I have to filter all that information and apply it to my game”
Technically, one of his great assets remains his long-iron play, one of his hallmarks on tour. Hovland himself explains why he feels so comfortable with them: “Partly it’s because of the irons I use, they’re very forgiving and allow me to control flight and spin well. But also because of my swing. I have a lot of flex in my left wrist and then I release it, which lets me launch the ball with a low angle but with a lot of control and consistency”
Beyond golf, Hovland also offered glimpses of his personality, like his customary smile, which he himself plays down, or his fondness for Greek food around Tampa, where he doesn’t hesitate to return each year. But, above all, he made it clear his current moment is one of work, adjustments and searching. He doesn’t arrive at the Valspar with the tag of undisputed favourite, but he does with the confidence of someone who has already shown he can win even in the eye of the storm. And that, on a course like Copperhead, can be more dangerous than any exhibition.
