Viktor Hovland on his “garbage” 2024 season: “I’ve learned a lot”

During the recent press conference at the TOUR Championship at East Lake, Viktor Hovland talked about what the 2024 season has been like for him. Since the beginning of the year, his performance has exhibited a pattern of fluctuations, with periods of success followed by instances of underperformance.

Speaking to the press at East Lake, Viktor Hovland said:

“I wouldn’t say I’ve been very happy with this year, but I do think I’ve learned a lot. What’s really cool is that I’ve still made it to this week playing what I felt like is absolute garbage. I think that’s something that’s pretty cool to kind of have in my back pocket is that okay, we can struggle and we can still come out here and have a chance to win tournaments”.

“I think that’s really cool,” he added. “That’s kind of how I’m processing this. I’ll sit down by the end of the year and really look at the whole course of the year. But I feel like I do a pretty good job of that, of analyzing each week as they go, so I know where I’m at”.

“It’s not like I have to play three months in a row and go, what did I do the last three months. I’m always kind of present and analyzing what’s going on. I’m just happy we’re moving in the right direction”.

Viktor Hovland’s Results Throughout the 2024 Season

Viktor Hovland’s 2024 season has yielded inconsistent results. From his strong performance at the beginning of the year, where he consistently ranked in the top positions, to the fluctuations that have characterized his career.

Hovland has had the opportunity to gain experience in all aspects of the game throughout his career. At the Memorial Tournament, for instance,  Viktor Hovland demonstrated his capabilities by finishing in the top five. However, in subsequent tournaments, such as the U.S. Open, he has encountered difficulties in maintaining a position within the top five. At the Open, he experienced difficulties in finding his rhythm and ultimately finished outside the top 20.

The most notable achievement of his season to date was his performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, in Memphis. Viktor Hovland finished in second place, tied with Xander Schauffele. However, the following week at the BMW Championship in Denver, his performance was below expectations, particularly on the green, where he failed to capitalize on key opportunities and fell to 26th in the standings.

These inconsistencies have been frustrating for Viktor Hovland, but they have also provided an opportunity for reflection and the chance to make necessary adjustments ahead of the TOUR Championship.

The Goal of the TOUR Championship

Despite the challenges he has faced, Viktor Hovland has secured his position at the TOUR Championship, a prestigious event in the golfing calendar. The tournament, held at Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club, is renowned for its challenging competition and for crowning the season’s champion.

For Viktor Hovland, the TOUR Championship represents an opportunity to not only redeem himself but also to conclude the season on a positive note.

During the presser, Viktor Hovland said

“I feel like things are getting better every single week, so that’s nice to build on. Obviously I had a really nice week in Memphis and played okay last week. I just couldn’t get anything going with my putter”.

He has invested time in adapting to the distinctive features of the East Lake course, which has undergone substantial alterations since his previous visit. The new greens and course redesign present an additional challenge, but Hovland is confident that his game is on the right track.

Viktor Hovland has stated that his primary objective is to maintain a course of action that will yield optimal results, namely, to reinforce the changes he has been implementing in his game. His objective is to not only compete in this tournament but also to leverage it as a springboard to enter the 2025 season with renewed confidence.

He is undaunted by the challenge of facing a redesigned course and fierce competition. In fact, he views it as motivation to continue improving and to demonstrate that, even in a challenging year, he can excel at the most crucial moments.