Viktor Hovland wins the 2023 Memorial Tournament, his first victory on American soil.

DUBLIN (Ohio) — Viktor Hovland, who will be playing in the Memorial Tournament next week, visited the old Ohio State Reformatory, located in Mansfield. This is where The Shawshank Redemption, a film, was filmed.

He said, “I just saw the outside.”

The 25-year old Norwegian knows how to escape the golf prison. Hovland, like Andy Dufresne just kept on pounding until he finally broke through.

Hovland won his first PGA Tour tournament in the United States at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday, in a one hole playoff against Denny McCarthy. He came close to winning several times during the season, not including his win at the Hero World Challenge unofficial in December. However, he walked away with nothing.

Hovland is not the “best player to never win a Major” as the phrase goes, but he’s the best golfer to not win a Major this year. He tied for seventh place at the Masters last April, and he was second at the PGA Championship just two weeks earlier. Hovland also tied for third place at the Players Championship in March, and was in contention last week going into the final round of Colonial. However, he ended up with a disappointing score of 73.

It appeared that his season of being close but not cigar would continue with nine holes left to play on Sunday. McCarthy was four shots behind him and his chances of winning were getting slimmer.

He said, “I’ve played in this spot before and it seems like that is the end of that tournament.” “But I felt really proud that I had fought back.”

Hovland stayed within striking distance of McCarthy with a birdie on 15. He then made the only birdie of the day at 17 to get within one shot. McCarthy was playing in a group behind. Hovland made a nervous 5-foot par putt at 18 and waited for McCarthy to stumble home with his one bogey on the day.

McCarthy missed his par-putting after chipping from 12 feet. Hovland, however, hit the green with two shots in the playoff. McCarthy’s approach shot was short, and he also missed his par-putting after chipping. Hovland sank a 7-footer after two-putting from 58-feet. He won his fourth tour title.

Sometimes, winning a tour event is more about relief than joy. This is especially true after having experienced so many close calls and exhausting the emotional reservoir.

Hovland stated that “learning from mistakes is essential.” “But sometimes, you can get too much scar tissue, and that is not good either.” “I don’t really know how to view it, but I think the more time you spend in the same position, the more you will learn, the better you can handle it. Instead of getting down on yourself when you don’t perform as you would like, that is a much better way to deal with it.”

Stay positive, despite the fact that it may seem like there is no hope. Another Shawshank-related reference. So sue me. It’s a great movie with golf included. Andy’s accuser of murder at the start of the movie was a professional golfer. A dangerous profession, particularly at country clubs.

But I digress. Hovland, who is also known as the Golden Bear, can tease Jack Nicklaus in the same manner that the Golden Bear does with those he enjoys.

When asked how well-known Nicklaus is in Norway Hovland replied to the 18 majors champion: “I don’t want to hurt your ego but I doubt that too many people know you.”

Hovland explained that the sport of golf is not very popular in Norway.

He said, “Our golfing season is short.” “We get lots of snow.” We’re a proud ski nation. In the summer, most people play soccer. In the last few decades, golf has become more popular.

Expect Norwegians to be more interested in golf than ever after Sunday’s victory by their own countryman. Hovland doesn’t think he is a Pied Piper. He planned to carry a friend’s golf bag in Monday’s U.S. Open qualifying at The Lakes Country Club and Brookside Country Club after hoisting Sunday’s Memorial Trophy.

One day a memorial champion, the next a humble caddie. It’s a well-deserved achievement.