Despite Overcoming Awful Form, Viktor Hovland Has One Nagging ‘Trouble’ That Won’t Stop Bothering Him

Viktor Hovland has harbored doubts about his swing since the Masters this year, which seems understandable given his lackluster start to the season considering having not finished in the top 10 even once before the PGA Championship. However, he delivered decent performances during the PGA Championship and the recent Memorial tournament. One might assume that these performances cleared doubts in Hovland’s mind. Unfortunately, that’s not the case!

The Norwegian still has doubts about his swing ahead of the first round at the US Open. In a recent press conference, Hovland came across the question “I’ve seen you rehearse this kind of head back, side bend move. Just wondering if you could explain some of the specifics to me and generally how it’s feeling, how the swing is feeling these days.” 

In response to the question, Hovland said, “I probably shouldn’t rehearse that because that’s what I don’t want to do. I’ve just been side bending and tilting a little bit from the top of the backswing, and it just gets me in trouble.” Highlighting the difficulties with the swing, the golfer further added, “I need to kind of do the opposite of that. That’s just what I’m working on.” After this revelation, it’s apparent that Hovland still retains doubts about his swing, which persistently troubles him as he works towards a solution.

In doing so, Hovland was prompted to express his sentiments regarding his swing, to which he replied “It hasn’t been quite as good as I’d like to. But played nine holes yesterday, and it was a little so and so. But went to the range afterward, and I felt like I found a little better feel to accomplish the same thing.” Highlighting his initial struggle with the swing, the golfer emphasized that it now feels as he desires it to be.

Moreover, the 26-year-old also voiced his curiosity about the upcoming events, suggesting that he might prioritize his swing during the US Open. As he persists in refining his swing, he seems to be returning to his previous level of play. Could this improvement be attributed to his change in coach?

Viktor Hovland went back to Joe Mayo

At this year’s PGA Championship, the golfer secured a third-place finish with a total of 266, 18-under-par. This outcome took many by surprise, especially considering that before the PGA Championship, the golfer hadn’t even made it into the top 10, let alone contended for the win. However, many began to credit his coach, Joe Mayo, for this performance. The duo began working together in 2023, and since then, Viktor Hovland’s performance has notably improved, with him not missing a single cut during that time.

However, despite positive developments, during the Sentry Tournament this year, the golfer unexpectedly chose to end his association with Mayo. While Hovland did not disclose details about the split, it was short-lived. In May of this year, he reunited with the same coach and has been collaborating with him ever since.

Do you believe Viktor Hovland’s swing has improved and he can win the US Open this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!