Viktor Hovland earned his eighth PGA Tour win thanks to a playoff victory against world no.1 Scottie Scheffler. The pair had to return to TPC River Highlands early Monday morning as they could not be split in regulation time, with both sitting at 21-under after Sunday’s final round.
The playoff lasted just one hole, the par-4 18th. Both Hovland and Scheffler found the middle of the fairway from the tee, before Scheffler found himself in position-A after his second stroke, ripping the ball back within a couple of feet from the hole.
Hovland then followed Scheffler’s effort with a special one of his own, spinning his 9-iron to sit just outside of Scheffler. Hovland, being further back had the privilage of putting first and the Norweigan used all of the right side of the hole to make sure his birdie putt dropped.
Scheffler, who was on a similar line was up next and he overhit his attempt to see it catch the side lip and continue passed the hole. Scheffler is now winless since January.
It’s despair for Scottie but delight for Hovland who had his mother in the crowd to watch him win for the first time.
“I knew I had to bring my best to have a chance to beat him and he certainly brought it out of me and I couldn’t be happier,” said Hovland.
“I keep pushing myself and I keep wanting to get better, but when I fall short it really pisses me off but I really did a good job after not getting off to a great start on Thursday and I didn’t let it bother me as much,” he added.
Scheffler’s playoff loss means that he has now finished in second place four times this season.
“I mean I played solid over the course of four days, theres obviously some shots I’d like back but overall it was a good solid week, I’m just disappointed with the finish,” said Scheffler.
Speaking on his missed birdie putt, Scheffler said; “I hit it on my line, I think it was a little bit firm. It was one of those putts you kinda have to make.”
The PGA TOUR now head to Illinois for the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run on July 2nd.
Leave a comment