Viktor Hovland might have found his swing, but heâ€s still looking for UFOs.
Hovland won this yearâ€s Valspar Championship, despite saying after his victory, “I hit a lot of disgusting shots but they just happened to go where I was looking.â€
Hovland hasnâ€t been happy with his swing since he captured the 2023 FedExCup title, after which he continued his never-ending quest to get better only to go 19 months without a win.
This week on the range at Bethpage, Hovland has been using multiple training aids and pounding balls and, maybe … eureka!?!
In a video posted by the European Ryder Cup social media team Wednesday evening (and later removed), Hovland told his European teammates, “Yeah, it was good on the range. I havenâ€t had a range session like that for two years.â€
To which Shane Lowry responded, “F*** yes! Now thatâ€s what I was hoping for!â€
Hovland, making his third Ryder Cup appearance, met the media Thursday and did his best to explain what he might have found in his swing.
“I donâ€t want to go too far deep into the golf swing, but the golf swing just seems too counterintuitive and almost paradoxical sometimes where I know if I look at my 3D data, like I rotate way faster and way more than I used to do when I first came out on Tour,†he said.
“Some of that is because Iâ€m hitting it further. Iâ€ve got more speed. Iâ€m more dynamic. So then by that data, Iâ€ve tried to almost slow down and not rotate as much off the ball. But then what I do is, I just spin open.
“It was almost a little counterintuitive yesterday where I felt almost more dynamic off the ball, but instead of spinning around, I was moving more up and back. So, it almost kept me more centered and more still, and from there, I can actually use my body like I used to before and not get it stuck.
“So, yeah, this game, itâ€s so fickle. You try to do something the opposite of what youâ€re doing, but sometimes thatâ€s not the answer. So itâ€s very elusive.â€
Hovland was also asked Thursday about his interest in UFOs. The 28-year-old Norwegian explained that itâ€s part distraction, part genuine intrigue.
“Yeah, just something that Iâ€ve been into the last couple years. I think Iâ€ve always been extremely into my golf, and sometimes you just look at your golf swing and trying to practice hard and you donâ€t really get the results that you want, it can be quite frustrating, and I think itâ€s been one of those things that Iâ€ve kind of taken my mind off of golf a little bit,†he said.
“And then the more you go into it, you just get more questions. Itâ€s one of those things that you donâ€t really find any more answers but itâ€s very interesting to go in there and kind of challenge some of your beliefs that you currently hold, and you kind of have to expand your mind a little bit.
“I think itâ€s super fascinating because it touches on so many different topics, as well. I find it really interesting.â€
As evidenced above, Hovland has a lot going on in his mind, which might help him with the New York crowds this week.
“I think youâ€ve just got to stick to your game, and if you play well, you know, thereâ€s going to be some comments here and there,†he said about possible jeers. “They wonâ€t really come close to the thoughts that I have in my own head. So I think Iâ€ll just laugh it off for the most part.â€
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