Viktor Hovland’s path to stardom began with a gift from his father.
In 2008, Harald Hovland, an engineer, was spending much of his year in St. Louis on a work project and bought a set of golf clubs to use at a driving range nearby. When he returned to Norway, he rather innocently brought a junior set back with him for his 11-year-old son and the rest as they say is history. Hovland, 27, has won seven times on the PGA Tour, including the 2023 FedEx Cup and climbed as high as No. 3 in the world. (He currently is No. 12.) Hovland is competing at the Genesis Scottish Open, where on Thursday he rocked a limited edition polo, featuring a bold, custom tartan print, honoring Scottish heritage. Before the tournament got underway, Hovland sat down and answered 19 questions for Golfweek, including clearing up his dating status for those who were wondering.
GWK: What’s the best, simplest change that turned around your short game from admittedly saying you sucked to being pretty good?
Viktor Hovland: I steepened the attack angle on my shots around the green to help my short game.
GWK: What happened to the double pump? Is there a chance that it is coming back again?
VH: I find the double pump helps promote more of a draw shape for me. If you see it again, it means I’m in a bad spot and I’m struggling to draw the ball!
GWK: Do you consider yourself to be a golf nerd or just a guy that’s really good at golf?
VH: I need to understand how things work. I enjoy the challenge and I obsess over the game as part of my desire to get better at it. If that puts me in the ‘golf nerd’ category then so be it!!
GWK: What motivates you the most to be your best golfing self?
VH: I just love this game and the challenges that it brings. Working hard and achieving my goals is the most rewarding part of it for me.
GWK: Do you have a road map to challenge Scottie Scheffler for world No. 1? If so, what wlll it take for you to do it? What are the sacrifices that you will have to make?
VH: I’m just trying to get my ball striking back to normal. That’s the pillar of my game and if I can do that and improve my chipping, I can achieve great things.
GWK: What are your career golf goals?
To be the best I can be.
GWK: What made you want to wear J.Lindeberg for your apparel? Do you have a memory of Jesper Parnevik wearing it growing up?
VH: Yes, I remember Jasper wearing it well. To me, it was Scandi, unique and bold, which I like.
GWK: What is your all-time favorite J.Lindeberg outfit and why?
VH: The shirt I wore during the first round of the Masters in 2023 was one of my favorites. It was outrageous! I played with Tiger and shot 65 which was nice.
GWK: What’s your go to J.Lindeberg look when you’re not on the course?
VH: Nothing too fancy, I’m a pretty casual jeans and t-shirt guy.
GWK: How does your golf apparel impact your confidence and performance on the course?
VH: I really like the feel of J.Lindeberg’s clothing. It looks sporty, provides good movement and I feel that aids my golf swing.
GWK: What do you make of the strong social media reaction to some of your outfits at the majors?
VH: I think it’s great. I know that JL get a lot of positive feedback too and I enjoy being part of their brand and style.
GWK: What did it feel like on the first tee of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome compared to a regular PGA Tour event?
VH: It does not compare to any other event I’ve played in. Coming from college golf, playing in a team is unlike anything else and we (Team Europe) have a really strong bond as a team. Whilst completely different, my goal is to stick to my process and focus on the tee shot regardless of the occasion.
GWK: You’ve made a lot of coacu didn’t win that still bugs you the most?
VH: I don’t think too much about it, but the 2023 PGA Championship is one that got away.
GWK: Where do you keep your U.S. Amateur trophy, FedEx Cup and other trophies from your golf life?
VH: My FedEx and U.S. Amateur trophies are kept in the clubhouse at Oak Tree National (in Edmond, Oklahoma). I still haven’t bought a replica of my U.S. Amateur trophy yet so that’s something on my to-do list.
GWK: You shared recently that you try to do some sightseeing on the road. What are some sites you’d still like to see while traveling the PGA Tour?
VH: Anything old and historic interests me. Stonehenge in the UK, battle grounds, Native American mounds in Ohio, etc.
GWK: What is your favorite Norwegian dish that your mom made for you when you were a kid?
VH: Faarikaal which is a type of lamb stew.
GWK: What’s a pet peeve of yours?
VH: I’m pretty easy going but I don’t like arrogance in general.
GWK: And by request of the female fans out there: Are you single?
VH: Yes, I am.
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