When a player starts to show signs of magic early into his professional career, the hype appears. Pressure is immediately added, even though it all might be misguided.
Some can live with that high bar of expectation and continue to demonstrate their class, while most others take time to adapt to the gruelling realities of the pro game. Players have to make mistakes, gain confidence and find their own path to success.
For Viktor Hovland, he appeared to be the real deal from early on, a total star in the making on and off the course. Quick with a joke and a high-watt smile, he has a mature head on his shoulders for a 22-year-old.
After turning pro following a T12 at the 2019 US Open, he finished last season with eight successive top-16 finishes. Among the many highlights of his burgeoning stardom was setting the record for most consecutive rounds in the 60s on the PGA Tour (19) after less than a full year as a professional.
That consistency was displayed with impressive ball-striking – he would have ranked second in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and third in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green if he had enough rounds to qualify for the PGA TOUR’s statistical rankings. Impressive for a young player still trying to unearth his own journey to glory.
Already a winner on the PGA Tour this season in Puerto Rico, the Oslo man provided another landmark feat when he became the first Norwegian man to break into the global top-50 following his T11 finish in the Travelers Championship last week.
Twelve months ago at the same event, he was ranked 340th in the world. Even then, there was something special about him.
It’s his presence, his innate sense of calm and self-confidence that sets him apart from other rising stars. He doesn’t wear that serious look on his face, doesn’t hide how he feels and appears to be enjoying himself at all times. In the middle of this, he is producing stellar performances.
Since golf’s return on June 11, he has recorded three straight top-25s and looks to be improving as each tournament passes. He moves on to his fourth event in four weeks, starting on Thursday, for the Rocket Mortgages Classic in Detroit – a course he placed T13 last year.
With the postponement of the Ryder Cup until 2021, there is little doubt the upward trend in his developing career is being noted by European captain Padraig Harrington.
While two-time major winner Suzann Pettersen flew the flag for the Nordic country over the years, Hovland is proving to be something of a star for male golfers.
Other experienced names will capture Harrington’s attention, however, the young Norwegian has the making of a stalwart for the European squad for years to come.
Ranked 89th on the European points list and 21st on the world points list in the automatic qualifying, he is still some way off being recognised as a concrete name for selection. But the rescheduling of the Ryder Cup gives the former Oklahoma State golfer every opportunity to be considered among the key names.
Many believe he is the best European player to join the professional ranks since Jon Rahm. A glowing statement. He is an incredible talent, comes across as a genuine and funny person plus holds himself in a manner that few youngsters do.
It’s mad to think Hovland only turns 23 in September. Remember one of the best players in the game, Tommy Fleetwood, only made his Ryder Cup debut at 27. He has buckets of potential.
According to PGA Tour stats, his driving game is strong (11th) and his approach game (12th) is consistent. However, if there is anything he could improve on, it is his those deft shots from within 30 yards of the green (217th) and his putting (121st).
As things stand, Hovland is 45th in the world which means there are 15 Europeans ranked ahead of him. He will end up above at least six of those names by the end of this year. Maybe even higher, such is his brilliance.
Like the USA, European golf has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to selecting a 12-man team. Harrington will want that perfect blend of experience – the reliable soldiers mixed with those form stars – in a bid to topple the Americans in Wisconsin.
There is only so many places in the squad to go around and the elder lemons like Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Danny Willett will either fade away or come back even stronger over the next year or so.
However, based on his last 12 months, Hovland is certainly on the right path to securing selection. The main thing, for now, is that he is enjoying his golf and continues to improve along the way. Showing this class at such a tender age is immense and he is certain to be a lock on the Ryder Cup stage for years to come.
