NFL
Viktor Hovland, the 23-year-old Norwegian birdied the 18th hole to win the Mayakoba Golf Classic, the last event for 2020.
To win with a birdie on the last hole is impressive, but Hovland was not as calm as he seemed.
“I thought I lost it after the second shot on 16 and made an awesome par there but missed a putt on 17 and knew I needed to make birdie on 18, and it just happened to go in,” said Hovland to the media after his win.
The win is the biggest of Hovland’s PGA Tour career and came in his 35th start.
His other victory came at the opposite-field Puerto Rico Open earlier in 2020 and he becomes the fifth European player since 1945 with multiple PGA TOUR wins before the age of 24.
At 23 years, 2 months, 18 days, Hovland became the youngest TOUR winner since Sungjae Im at 2020 The Honda Classic.
And talk about karma, the Mayakoba was the first PGA TOUR event he played in 2018 as an amateur but missed the cut in his two previous starts at this event.
Hovland shot a final round 65 and finished at 20-under par.
Aaron Wise finished second at 19-under, and Adam Long and Tom Hoge T-3rd at 17-under.
Hovland made 25 birdies for most in the field this week.
Tom Hoge (-17/T3) carded a 2-under 69 in the final round for his best result on TOUR since a runner-up at 2019 A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier.
In his bid to become the event’s first player to successfully defend his title, Brendon Todd finished T8 at 15-under 269.
Emiliano Grillo held the 54-hole lead but fell behind and finished T8 after a final-round 72.
Hovland explained how his third try was the charm.
“I was lucky enough to get an exemption here in 2018, first PGA TOUR event. Was really nervous, maybe even more nervous than I was making that putt on 18. I missed the cut by a shot there”, said Hovland.
“The next year I come back, the first time as a pro, missed the cut by a shot. So it’s nice to come back here the third time and get the win to kind of get some revenge for the first two times.”
Viktor should advance to 15th in the World Golf Rankings after his win Sunday.
30 PGA Tour starts. Two wins. 🏆
Viktor Hovland is ending 2020 on a high note. pic.twitter.com/mcTlK34omQ
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 6, 2020
Ron Mintz
