Victor Hovland saved his best December golf over the past two years.
The 25-year old Norwegian won the Hero World Challenge at Albany Club, Nassau, Bahamas. Tiger Woods presented the trophy to the winner for the second year in a row.
He said, “That’s pretty awful ass,” in a post-round interview with NBC. “I’m happy that he didn’t play the previous two years. It’s an incredible event, and winning his event is obviously very special.”
The event, which Tiger Woods hosts as an unofficial host, benefits his TGR Foundation and is 15-time major champion Tiger Woods. Woods had to withdraw earlier this week from the event due to plantar fasciitis.
Hovland made a last-hole error on Sunday, but he closed with a 3-under-69 to win by two strokes over Scottie Scheffler. Hovland shot a total 72-hole score of 16-under 272, becoming the first player to successfully defend his title after tournament host Tiger Woods (2006) and 2007.
Hovland said, “It was frickin nervewracking.” He held a five stroke lead and almost lost it. “I played a little bit poorly on the back nine, but it was enough.”
Hovland came from six strokes behind to win the final round with a 66 to edge Scheffler a year ago. In the final round, they fought again and Hovland had a three-stroke advantage over Scheffler who is the current PGA Tour Player Of The Year. Thanks to making 10 career-best birdies and shooting 64 during the third round, he was able to do so.
“It was so great, I didn’t even realize it but at one point, I was like, ‘Holy(crap), this guy eight under right now,” stated Xander Schauffele who was playing alongside Hovland and placed fourth. “I look at the board and feel completely rinsed today. He played very well today. I felt almost bad about my round.
The 20-man event saw 14 of the top-20 in the world including Scheffler who could have been back at World No. Scheffler could have returned to World No. 1 with a win. He tried his best, making birdies on two of the four first holes and then chipping in for an eagle at par-5 sixth to tie the lead for the moment. He made his third eagle for the week. Hovland made a 10-foot birdie and would never lose the lead again. He only required 44 putts for the 36 remaining holes, which included 23 one-putt greens.
Paul Azinger, NBC’s Paul Azinger, said that “Good luck beating someone else who does that.”
Scheffler was unable to rise and fall at the seventh hole and then made a double par at the ninth to increase Hovland’s lead to five. Scheffler signed for 68 and made four birdies on nine to reduce the gap to just two strokes at the final hole. Hovland angled his tee shot right, making a strange stance above a fairway bunker. He aimed straight with a 6-iron, rather than a layup, as the ball was above his feet. He did what he could not do: he tugged his approach hard left, and the ball bounced off of the rocks into the water.
Hovland murmured, “Oh my God!” “Wow.”
He was facing a double bogey and possibly a playoff. But he dropped and pitched on to sink a 10-foot bogey putt that won the title.
Hovland stated, “It made the experience a little more exciting, I suppose.”
Cameron Young, PGA Tour rookie of the year, shot 68 to place third. Hovland’s putter skills were the real winner. They also provided a perfect end to his win at the DP World Tour Dubai Desert Classic in January.
Azinger stated that Azinger showed “he has a lot heart and a lot guts.” He is very proud of this achievement. He will be able to take this forward. He hits it well, but if his putts are as good, the future will be bright.
