Viktor Hovland Stages Stunning Comeback

The Norwegian, who had missed the cut in his previous three tournaments, showed remarkable resilience, securing birdies on three of his last five holes to shoot a four-under-par 67. His final round surge was enough to clinch a one-stroke victory at 11-under par.

A Thrilling Final Round

Hovland’s triumph seemed unlikely as he trailed by three strokes on the back nine. However, a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-five 14th hole ignited his charge. He followed up with a pinpoint seven-iron approach on the demanding 16th hole, leaving himself a five-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead.

The defining moment came at the par-three 17th, where he attacked a back pin location and rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt, securing a two-shot cushion. Despite late pressure from Thomas, Hovland held his nerve to claim victory.

Reflecting on his performance, Hovland admitted: “I hit a lot of poor shots, but somehow they ended up in the right places. I managed to execute my good shots at the right time.”

A Close Battle at the Top

Justin Thomas, whose last victory came at the 2022 PGA Championship, pushed hard but ultimately fell just short. “I felt great out there, excited for every shot. But Viktor birdied 16 and 17, and there wasn’t much I could do,” he said.

Jacob Bridgeman, who had led at the tournament’s halfway mark, finished in third place at nine-under par. Bud Cauley (66), Billy Horschel (67), and Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune (68) shared fourth place at eight-under, while Davis Riley (69) secured seventh place at seven-under.

Horschel’s Incredible Recovery Shot

Billy Horschel provided one of the most memorable moments of the tournament with an astonishing recovery shot at the par-five fifth hole. Finding his ball nestled against a tree, he opted to invert a nine-iron and swing left-handed. Incredibly, he struck the ball 117 yards onto the green and holed a 30-foot putt for birdie.

“There was no other way to hit it but left-handed,” Horschel explained. “I was just hoping to get it up in the air and straight.”

His biggest challenge, however, was ensuring his young son was out of the way before attempting the shot. “The last thing I needed was to call my wife and tell her I’d hit our son with a golf ball,” he joked.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, Hovland has reignited his season and will be one to watch in upcoming tournaments. Golf fans can expect plenty more drama as the tour moves forward to its next event.

Who will take the next title? The season promises more thrilling action as the world’s best golfers continue to battle for supremacy.