Viktor Hovland won the Valspar Championship, capping off a remarkable comeback during one of the most challenging stretches of his professional career.
Arriving at the Innisbrook Resort in Florida, Hovland had little faith in his game. In fact, he wasn’t even sure he would play. The Norwegian star, who won the FedExCup in 2023, had been struggling with his swing for over a year. Since that victory, he had gone through five swing coaches, desperately searching for consistency. He had missed the cut in eight consecutive full-field events, and his confidence had hit rock bottom.
But golf has a way of surprising even the most seasoned players — and on Sunday, Hovland surprised everyone, including himself.
Trailing by three shots with five holes to play, Hovland mounted a dramatic charge down the stretch. He birdied three of his final five holes, including a sensational moment on the par-4 16th, widely considered the toughest hole at Copperhead. From 186 yards out, he launched a perfect 7-iron over a front bunker, landing it just five feet from the pin. He calmly rolled in the birdie putt and kept the momentum going to finish with a 4-under 67.
His one-shot victory over Justin Thomas not only secured the title, but also reignited hope in a game that had felt lost just days earlier.
“It’s been quite the struggle the past year and a half, so for me to come back and win this tournament is quite incredible,” Hovland said after the win. “I was not very hopeful with my game leading into this week. Just goes to show this game is pretty crazy.”
Despite the win, Hovland isn’t claiming to be fully back. He admitted there are still flaws in his swing — too many shots feel off, too many times the club is out of position. Much of his performance came down to finding something that worked just enough to get him through the week.
“I honestly did not believe I could do it this week,” he said. “Wasn’t sure I was going to show up, but I’m glad I did.”
With the victory, Hovland adds another PGA Tour title to his resume, but more importantly, he walks away with renewed belief in his ability to compete — and win — at the highest level, even when the odds seem stacked against him.
