The bad news for those with vested interests in Europe’s Ryder Cup[1] team is that two weeks out Viktor Hovland has no idea where his ball will go when he hits a driver or wood. The good is that a state of madness appears to suit him.
To listen to the world No 15 in the aftermath of his second round at the BMW PGA Championship[2] was to hear a man lost to golf’s riddles. ‘These shots hurt my soul,’ he said.
The peculiarity within that assessment came from the numbers – a loop of 66 left him at 11 under par in a share of second place alongside his team-mates Justin Rose and Ludvig Aberg, one behind Hideki Matsuyama.
That would be ample compensation for most, but Hovland is a man whose free time is often spent combing the internet for evidence of extraterrestrials and whose swing has prompted even deeper searches for answers. The risk with this Norwegian remains his propensity to unravel an entire jumper over one loose thread.
His closing eagle on the par-five 18th at Wentworth was a case in point. After shooting a three there for a second straight day, he said: ‘The wind was way off the right and I’ve been basically hitting high, push slices all day, so when I hit it there, it’s perfect. On paper I’m gaining shots.
‘But it’s not the shot I’m envisioning. I would rather hit a shot I’m envisioning and up in the left bunker.
Viktor Hovland has admitted he has no idea where his ball will go when he hits a driver or wood
It comes just a matter of days before he will be in Ryder Cup action in New York for Europe
‘It’s just frustrating as a golfer when 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.
‘It’s been kind of the same thing every day. It’s making the game a bit more stressful than it should be.’
Hovland’s salvation here has been his exemplary iron play and short game. But European captain Luke Donald will no doubt be twitchy given how much previous Hovland has for fiddling. And more so over the form of his only rookie in the delegation heading to Bethpage Black, Rasmus Hojgaard, who missed the cut. Two birdies in the final three holes ensured Tommy Fleetwood did not join him.
He joined Rory McIlroy on three under – the world No 2 double bogeyed the last in a 72. Rose, who shot a 66 on a day of heavy downpours and is chasing his first win here in 20 visits, said: ‘I’ve got the bit between my teeth and feel I have the confidence to win any tournament.’
References
- ^ Ryder Cup (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ PGA Championship (www.dailymail.co.uk)