Viktor Hovland has been missing in action since the Tour Championship. The fallout, however, isn’t what anyone expected. The Norwegian tied for 12th in the $100M purse event. Asked about his plans, the 27-year-old then said, “Yeah, I’m not sure yet. I’m kind of still trying to figure some of that stuff out.”

On Thursday, Bunkered reported that Viktor Hovland has suffered an unspecified injury forcing him to sit out the last leg of the DP World Tour. That means Hovland has played only two DP World Tour counting events – the Olympics (T30), and the Genesis Scottish Open (T46). The Wentworth-HQ tour requires players to tee up in four tournaments outside the majors to keep their card. 

This is a key reason why a host of LIV golfers are teeing off at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. It’s also why Jon Rahm had to leave his wife, Kelly Cahill, and book a flight to Spain right after the couple welcomed their third child. 

The ultimate goal is to secure a Ryder Cup spot. Players are only eligible if they have a Tour card. And LIV golfers like Rahm will likely fulfill that criteria. But what about Hovland? While it’s true that the 27-year-old will miss the mark, the fears that Hovland might lose his Tour card was premature.

Mirror reported that the DP World Tour will grant him a medical exemption that will allow the Norwegian to keep his card. But there is little chance that the six-time PGA Tour winner will be back in action before next year. And, the latest injury is another one in the long list of setbacks for Viktor Hovland in 2024.

2024 has been marked by getting to know the real Viktor Hovland

The Viktor Hovland of 2024 looked all but a shadow of the 2023 Tour Championship-winning one. Hovland changed his swing – the one that gave him three titles last season. He made only one cut at the majors this year, whereas, it was expected that Hovland would finally cement his status by securing at least one major win this year. 

It would appear that Hovland might have opened the wrong portal by mistake. However, the 27-year-old has always been willing to experiment with golf. Among many other things. In a freewheeling interview with Tom Kershaw of The Times in July, Hovland touched upon aliens to the afterlife while talking about his current situation. Again, among many other things.

It might seem frivolous but this is the same person who devoured papers on affirmative action during the lunch break at the 2018 US Amateur. He won that year. Hovland hasn’t done anything that he wasn’t expected to do. Nevertheless, Golf hasn’t been that much fun for Viktor Hovland lately. Perhaps a long break provides an opportunity for introspection.