“In my opinion, I suck at it right now.” These were Viktor Hovland‘s words after the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The golfer tied at T22 with an average score of 10 under par. Despite flashes of brilliance, he’s been struggling to recapture his 2023  summer form, and the frustration is mounting. However, his willingness to confront weaknesses is a refreshing change from the typical athlete’s bravado.

Hovland’s been trying to have more fun and not care as much about the result, but he admits that’s easier said than done. As someone who’s “very technically driven,” he is focused on fixing his fundamentals rather than relying on mental tricks. So, is he going to redeem himself in his future tournaments? Well, he could. The golfer barely made it to the top 60 in his last outing at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2024, finishing 62nd with a score of 1-under.

But he’s got a decent track record at this tournament, averaging at 6-under and a finish of 25th (average) over his last four appearances. He’s also shown some promising form in his recent performances. The stats are also worth a look. He’s been averaging 300.2 yards off the tee in his past five tournaments, and while his putting has been a bit of a letdown (-1.009 Strokes Gained: Putting), he’s still got the skills to compete with the best.

So, can Hovland turn things around and make a strong showing at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2025? We’ll have to wait and see. Though, the golfer is trying every trick in the book to make a solid comeback this time.

Viktor Hovland’s desperate attempts to improve his game

During the 2025 Sentry Tournament of Champions, Hovland competed despite a minor injury, but didn’t punch a top finish. He then made some significant changes to his equipment ahead of the API, switching back to his old trusty putter, a prototype DS-72, and ditching his Puma shoes for a pair of old Nike kicks. “I’ve gone back to some old Nike shoes, as I feel I can read the slopes of the greens better with my feet,” he explained. “They are so light, and actually a bit unstable, compared to the Puma shoes I’ve been using for a while now.” However, his score at the API told a different story. Hovland shot a 5-over 77 on Thursday and a 72 on Friday, but it wasn’t enough to make the cut. He finished with a total score of 5-over par 149, just one stroke shy of making it to the weekend.

The equipment change didn’t quite have the desired effect, and Hovland’s struggles on the greens continued. Despite his best efforts, he just couldn’t seem to get things going. “These are the ones I’ve played with for much of my career, so I’m very familiar with them. I feel like I read the greens much better, which makes me much more comfortable with the ball,” Hovland said, hoping that the change would help him regain his confidence. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way. With the PLAYERS Championship on the way, Hovland will be hoping to turn things around soon. But for now, it’s back to the drawing board. Do you the golfer can redeem himself this time? Let us know in the comment section below!