But Viktor Hovland is still in contention to win the BMW PGA at Wentworth this weekend – and he insists he can still be “deadly” against the Americans at Bethpage Black
Viktor Hovland shot a 66 to climb into contention at the BMW PGA – and then claimed some of his shots were so bad they “hurt the soul”. But the inconsistent Norwegian, who finished his round by nailing a 44-foot eagle putt at the last, insisted he can still be “deadly” at the Ryder Cup.
Hovland is ranked No.76 on the PGA Tour for driving and needed a wildcard after slipping down to world No.15. Yet the Oklahoma-based star relied on his superb iron play and improved short game to card eight birdies and two eagles in his first two rounds to sit on 11-under par.
“I need to be proud of myself that I’m still able to come around here and be leading after two rounds when it doesn’t feel very good,” said Hovland. “Some of the shots I hit hurt the soul. Right now the driving has been costing me a bunch.
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“It’s just frustrating as a golfer when this is my golf and I step up and I have an intention of wanting to start the ball a certain height and start it left of the target and curve it and then the ball starts high and right, complete opposite of what I’m trying to do. Like that’s just frustrating. But I know how to play.
“So I’m doing the best I can. my iron game has been fairly good this year and I can lean on that a little bit. So far for the two days, I’ve chipped and putted extremely well, so that’s pretty fun to see.”
Hovland had fun in Rome at the last Ryder Cup when he combined with Ludvig Aberg to thrash world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9&7. The Norwegian has just won the 2023 Tour Championships – and the RedEx Cup.
But if he is worried about his form going into Bethpage Black, the winner of the Valspar Championships in March said: “That’s how I played all year, and I still won a PGA TOUR event and I almost won a major. I’m not worried about that fact.
“I just have to get this game a little bit better shape. I don’t doubt that I’m going to be in that atmosphere and I don’t doubt myself that I’m going to be able to get the maximum out of what I have. It’s just a matter of what it is that I have that week and that’s what I’m working on. I shot 80 at PLAYERS earlier this year and I won the next week. I would rather not play the game of golf that way because there’s not how I used to do it.
“I definitely won’t put the clubs away but whether I’ll be there or Oklahoma, I’m not sure. I’ll be grinding. And the short game is deadly in match play.
“It’s all about momentum and making putts and getting up-and-downs from the trash can. That’s what’s going to put pressure on your opponent.”