In golf, as in life, the key to success is not avoiding difficulties, but facing them with determination and method. Viktor Hovland's recent victory at the Valspar Championship was not only a technical triumph, but also an exciting demonstration of resilience and strategy. After a period of uncertainty, the Norwegian overturned all predictions, imposing himself with a performance that thrilled everyone - especially the fantastic Norwegian commentators -, reminding everyone how essential it is to believe in your own path.
Hovland, results
Despite an extraordinary 2023, 2024 did not go the best way for Hovland. The stats showed a decline in performance from the previous year: his Strokes Gained: Approach had fallen to +0.458, ranking him 18th on the PGA Tour, while his driving accuracy stood at 62.9%, placing him 82nd. His Greens in Regulation (GIR) was just 67.84%, marking a shocking regression from the absolute dominance of 2023 where he had enchanted everyone especially at the Ryder Cup in Rome.
As 2025 began, the difficulties persisted. During the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Hovland lost a total of 6,054 putting strokes over the first two days, despite having recorded a decent Strokes Gained: Putting of +0.269 the previous season. The results raised questions about his performance on the greens and the effectiveness of the equipment changes the Norwegian phenom was making.
But Hovland never lost faith in his work. He continued to stick to his plan, relying on specific training sessions to improve his ball control and working with his team on green readings. He devoted more than 15 hours a week exclusively to short-game sessions, an area that had suddenly become super critical for him.
Valspar Triumph: Stats and Data
During the Valspar Championship, Hovland defied the odds, displaying a solid, methodical game coupled with a killer finish on the Snake Pit at Copperhead. Here are some key numbers from his performance:
Driving Accuracy: 74% (versus a season average of 65%)
Strokes Gained: Approach: +1.12 (tournament best)
Greens in Regulation: 78% (significantly higher than his 2024 and early 2025 numbers)
Scrambling: 80% (essential to save a score on such a difficult course)
Putting Performance: +0.89 strokes gained over the field average
Number of putts in the final round: 29
Fairways in regulation: 86%
One of the most impressive aspects of his victory was his control under pressure despite being down two strokes with three holes to go. As everyone else was getting ready to bring out the driver on the fearsome 16tha move that likely cost Justin Thomas the tournamentHovland opted for a driving iron, securing himself the ideal fairway position. From there, he then attacked the shaft with a near-perfect 7-iron, taking home a rare but precious birdie on the most difficult hole on the course.
Trust the Process: Hovlands Winning Mindset
Hovlands success is no accident. His approach to golf is based on the philosophy of Trust the Process, a concept that emphasizes the importance of sticking to a structured method without being influenced by short-term results.
