Viktor Hovland, the defending champion on the Memorial Event, has had a subpar begin to his 2024 season. However he returns to Muirfield Village, the place he beat Denny McCarthy in a playoff, contemporary off a stable efficiency on the PGA Championship.
His success right here final 12 months catapulted him up the FedEx Cup rankings. Hovland then went on a heater and received two extra occasions, throughout back-to-back weeks in August on the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship.
Nonetheless, the previous Oklahoma State Cowboy is aware of final 12 months’s outcomes don’t imply something.
“This golf course doesn’t care about your reminiscences or good vibes,” Hovland stated.
“It’s going to punish you and produce you down for those who miss it on the unsuitable sides. It’s one of many hardest programs we play all 12 months, so it’s important to convey your A recreation, whether or not you’re a defending champion or not.”
The common rating at the Memorial Event final 12 months was 74.9, almost three pictures over par. Count on the common to hover round that once more this 12 months, as Jack Nicklaus loves to check one of the best gamers on his course.
Much like 2023, Hovland is coming into this week with some momentum. His final begin got here at Valhalla, the place he completed solo third.
Earlier than that top-5 end, Hovland missed the lower at The Masters. His greatest outcome got here on the Genesis Invitational, the place he tied for nineteenth.
The 6-time PGA Tour winner went from being among the finest gamers on the planet to struggling to make cuts. Earlier than the season-opening occasion at The Sentry, Hovland and coach Joe Mayo parted methods. Then, from January to Could, he employed three completely different swing coaches.
Forward of Valhalla, he traveled to Las Vegas and commenced working with Mayo once more. Hovland instantly noticed outcomes on the PGA Championship, as he appeared like his previous self.
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Picture by Patrick Smith/Getty Photos
“I used to be tremendous proud about that week. After not taking part in excellent golf the primary few months of the 12 months, it was good to show one thing round,” he stated.
“As quickly as I discovered a shot that I knew the place the ball was going and I may get myself across the golf course, I used to be instantly up in competition. That was cool to see that it wasn’t going to be a mission that was going to take two or three months. It was a pleasant little really feel that acquired me to hit the ball higher instantly.”
For the primary two rounds, Hovland will play with 2024 PGA Championship winner, Xander Schauffele. They are going to start their first spherical at 10:20 a.m. ET on Thursday.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. For extra golf protection, remember to observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You too can observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
