Home/Golf

via Imago

via Imago

Viktor Hovland had been in hot waters after criticizing the PGA Tour. The Norwegian golfer called out the Tour on seeing players as laborers and “not as part of the members.” The 2023 TOUR Championship winner had given an interview in his home country and talked about various things.

While shattering his defection rumors was one, his honest thoughts on the PGA Tour and calling out their arrogance was another. After his interview got translated and became a hot topic, Hovland shared what the reaction from the Tour pros was and how they supported his statements.

Viktor Hovland appreciates the support from his fellow pros

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Before he tees up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Viktor Hovland sat for a tête-à-tête with Scott Verplank, a former PGA Tour player. from helping Jon Rahm get on the 2025 Ryder to the support he got after confessing about the Tour’s current state to preparing for Masters, he came on the Sellout Crowd show and revealed various things.

In December 2023, Hovland stated that the PGA Tour has done “a damn bad job” after Jon Rahm defected to LIV Golf. The views of the Scandinavian star were tendentious, though in the end got the support from other pros. Hovland said, “I got a couple of text messages. And mostly they were in support.”

Moreover, he explained that people would not text him “if they were disagreeing”. He did get support from some and said, “I appreciate that.” Later, the 26-year-old stood by his remarks and did not regret saying anything as he claimed he was just being honest.

Hovland asserted that in the end, he spoke his mind, and “whether that’s going to be given a good reception or a bad reception,” it does not matter as much. Although the 6-time PGA Tour winner did find it dejected after everything transpired.

Viktor Hovland, unhappy with the reaction to his Norwegian interview

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Hovland’s appearance on the Norwegian channel was regarded as a way that the 26-year-old shared his feelings about the PGA Tour. In the same interview, he also disregarded the rumors of joining LIV Golf, saying that he would not “become a better golfer there.”

Read More: Viktor Hovland Makes a Career-Changing Decision; but Not the One Everyone Hoped for as Per Reports

Although after the release of the interview, there was some backlash on the internet, the majority supported Hovland’s views. Even though he was being honest and it did not affect him much, Hovland “didn’t really anticipate it blowing up as much as it did.” He explained that he was just answering the question truthfully and the reaction was “sad.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Hovland did not experience any backlash from the PGA Tour and exclaimed that he did not want to “dog out the Tour.” The 6x PGA Tour winner will soon be laying his second event of the season after the Sentry in January.

Watch This Story: LIV Golf News: 3 Major Takeaways as the $3B PGA Tour-PIF Merger Deadline Gets Extended, as Per Reports