The golf fraternity is divided into two segments: men’s golf and women’s golf. Out of the two, men of the sport are perceived to be more renowned. But the times are changing. This change was on display when Viktor Hovland, a rising star in men’s golf, recently acknowledged that he is not as renowned as a certain LPGA icon.

After emerging the winner in heroic fashion in Chicago, Viktor Hovland, with all the humbleness, admitted to being less renowned than the Norwegian LPGA icon, who is now retired from the course. 

Viktor Hovland passes on the baton to the LPGA Tour icon 

The last few days have been good for the 25-year-old Hovland. He became the third golfer to join the European team for the 2023 Ryder Cup. And just a couple of days after this good news, Hovland achieved yet another stunning feat. 

Viktor Hovland emerged victorious at the BMW Championship and won the prize money of $3.6 million. The golfer’s victory was special indeed, but it became even more special because of the other factors that chimed in. Hovland shot 61 during the final round at Olympia Fields and set the course record. Not only this, but the round was his career’s best round. 

After his heroic win, the golfer is all set to take on the East Lake Golf Club. But before that, the golfer tipped his crown to Suzann Pettersen, an LPGA icon who has now hung up her clubs. The golfer was in a pre-tournament conference where an interviewer asked him about who he thought was more famous in Norway; him or Pettersen.

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Hovland said without hesitation that he would give the nod to Pettersen, citing her many victories on the LPGA Tour and in major championships.

“I think I would have to give the nod to Suzann,” the 5X PGA Tour champion said.

The 46-year-old has been in the game for a long time. She turned professional in 2000 and won 15 LPGA Tour events, including two major championships. She was also a member of the European Solheim Cup team seven times, and she captained the team in 2019. 

A look into the established career of Suzann Pettersen 

The LPGA icon played her first golf tournament when she was just six. Ever since then, she has been associated with the sport. She won the title of Norwegian Amateur 5 consecutive times from 1996 to 2000, and later that year, she turned pro. She joined LET in 2001 and earned exempt status for the 2003 LPGA season. 

2007 was a good year for her as it turned out to be the trophy-laden season for the golfer. In her decorated career, Pettersen has won 22 times, out of which 15 are on the LPGA Tour, and six are on Ladies European Tour. The golfer has two major victories to her name, the 2007 LPGA Championship and the 2013 Evian Championship. She managed to earn 23 top 10s in her journey at the majors. 

The 2X major champion retired in 2019 after leading her team toward victory at the Solheim Cup that year. 

Indeed, Hovland was right to pass on the crown to the golf queen of Norway. Tune in to find out what unfolds at the Tour Championship, and who gets to be called as the 2023 FedEx Cup winner. 

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