Viktor Hovland 'just got U.S. Open-ed out there' but he likes his swing again so look out
Viktor Hovland 'just got U.S. Open-ed out there' but he likes his swing again so look out
OAKMONT, Pa. – Viktor Hovland is feeling better about his golf swing.
Speaking of Thursday's first round at the 125th U.S. Open, he said, 'That was the best ball-striking round in a long time. It's felt better before but it's hard to argue with the statistics.'
To that point, Hovland ranks first in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green this week.
Hovland is his harshest critic so for him to sing his own praises is telling. He won the Valspar Championship in March but even in his winner's press conference he complained that his swing needed a lot more work. Other low rounds, he's described as smoke and mirrors but his confidence in repeating his swing is on the rise.
On an overcast Friday, a few of his bad habits crept into his swing but he made five birdies and an eagle and signed for 2-under 68 at Oakmont Country Club. He improved to 1-under 139 at the halfway point.
'Some of the shots I've been hitting the last couple days, it's been just fun,' he said.
Hovland has been trying to rediscover the magic of his 2023 season when he was the FedEx Cup champion and climbed to world No. 3. He made the game look easy. 'Maybe got a little bit of a taste of what Scottie Scheffler feels like when he steps on the first tee,' he said of that magical season.
Hovland, who has changed swing coaches the way Elizabeth Taylor used to change husbands, reunited with Grant Waite in March, and they've been making progress.
2025 U.S. Open leaderboard, live updates Keep tabs on the second round at Oakmont
'Earlier this week was very happy with some of the shots that I was hitting out there in the practice rounds,' he said. 'Super excited that I was able to take that out with me in the tournament.'
Hovland also has arrived this week with a positive attitude. After a poor putting round on Thursday, he flipped the switch on Friday, beginning the day by holing a 53-foot birdie putt from the fringe at No. 10. Later, he holed out a pitch for eagle at 17 but caught a bad lie at the second hole in a bunker near the lip.
'Did a good job just to get it out in the fairway…and actually made a nice two-putt for a double bogey,' he said.
He turned to caddie Shay Knight and said, 'I just got U.S. Opened right there.'
But Hovland didn't let his round implode. 'There's not much you can do about it,' he said. 'I could have potentially lost my mind there a little bit. But I felt like I kept things together very well.'
That he did and it's his new-found confidence that he's striping it again that makes him a dangerous man this weekend.
'I'm very pleased with 2-under par, but also I know that I was 4-under at some point, and missed a short putt on 6 and three-putted No. 8,' Hovland said. 'So it's like very pleased, but also, man, that could have been a little bit lower.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Unfortunate News on Multiple Golfers Announced During Final Round at Travelers Championship
Unfortunate News on Multiple Golfers Announced During Final Round at Travelers Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Travelers Championship teed off for its final round on Sunday, and both Keegan Bradley and Tommy Fleetwood were dueling on the course for their share of the $20 million purse. But Sunday also brought bad news for several PGA Tour players. Advertisement An unexpected wave of withdrawals hit the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands as several golfers were forced to call it quits due to illness or injury. First, Eric Cole, sitting at 6‑under after three rounds, withdrew on Sunday morning due to an illness, removing himself from contention before the final round even began. Cole had posted solid rounds of 68–67–69 and was tied for 14th before pulling out. Matti Schmid quietly withdrew during Sunday's final round. Schmid had been paired late in the day, scheduled for a 12:56 pm tee time, but failed to appear due to an illness. The most dramatic exit came from Viktor Hovland, who pulled out just two holes into his final round. Viktor Hovland prepares to putt on the fourth green during the final round of the U.S. Open.© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Hovland played a par on the first and bogeyed the second before withdrawing after 'feeling a crack' in his neck during his warm-up moments before the tee, leaving the fairway visibly distressed. Advertisement He later confirmed that the pain worsened quickly, making continuation impossible. Hovland, fresh off a third-place finish at last week's U.S. Open, had shot a remarkable 63 on Saturday to enter the last day in strong form. This marks at least the fourth withdrawal at this week's event: earlier exits included Jordan Spieth (shoulder) and Si Woo Kim (back). Prior to the tournament, Corey Conners and Brian Campbell had also withdrawn due to injuries. Sunday's spate of unfortunate departures dimmed what was shaping up to be an exciting conclusion to the PGA Tour's final signature event of the year. Advertisement Related: Tommy Fleetwood Makes Revelation About Wife Clare and Kids at Travelers Championship This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Keegan Bradley's Perfect Answer to Ryder Cup Playing Captain Question
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Once again, the PGA Tour delivered an incredible amount of drama Sunday at the Travelers Championship. Keegan Bradley pulled off a miraculous, comeback victory to defeat Tommy Fleetwood and Russell Henley by one stroke. He did so in a wildly dramatic way, birdieing the 72nd hole while Fleetwood three-putted for bogey. To no one's surprise, the trolls were out in full force after watching Fleetwood crumble. After sinking the walk-off putt, Bradley chest bumped his caddie as his sons came out to celebrate on the course. After the eight-time PGA Tour winner had a moment to collect himself, he was joined by CBS Sports' Amanda Balionis. "Absolutely incredible," Bradley said. "I feel an obligation to play for the people of New England and the northeast and represent them. This is the best way I can do it. "Of all the shots and all of the putts I have hit, I think I'll remember that one the most," referring to the birdie putt on 18. CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 22: Keegan Bradley of the United States reacts to his birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship 2025 at TPC River Highlands on June... CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 22: Keegan Bradley of the United States reacts to his birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship 2025 at TPC River Highlands on June 22, 2025 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by) More Getty Images But it did not take long for her to address the elephant in the Ryder Cup room. "I know you said you would only be a playing captain if you earned it on points. But have you convinced yourself that you would be an addition to this team now?" Bradley had the perfect and most patriotic answer. "Go USA," the New England native said as he stared into the camera. With Sunday's win, Bradley moved up to eighth in the FedEx Cup standings. With regard to the Ryder Cup, the top six-ranked players automatically qualify. But the final six players for Team USA are chosen by the captain, which this year, is Keegan Bradley. Earlier this week, Bradley addressed the idea of becoming the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. He expressed his desire to play, but also recognized what an awkward position he is in. The 39-year-old understands the optics if he chooses himself to play. But at some point, players like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are going to ask him to do so. He consistently displays that clutch gene needed at the biennial event. Moreover, Bradley is highly emotional and carries that emotion on his sleeve. Team USA needs more of that. More Golf: Viktor Hovland Withdraws from Travelers with Latest Injury
San Francisco Chronicle
9 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Viktor Hovland with a neck injury is among 3 players to withdraw at Travelers
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Viktor Hovland withdrew after two holes at the Travelers Championship on Sunday when he felt soreness in his neck on the range and the pain became worse. Hovland was among three players to withdraw from the PGA Tour's signature event. Eric Cole, who was tied for 14th, pulled out before the round started with an illness. Matti Schmid withdrew after playing four holes. Hovland said he felt great while warming up until deciding to hit a couple of drives and then he felt something in his neck. 'It felt fine, didn't feel hardly anything at all, just felt like something was maybe brewing,' Hovland said. 'Then the next shot that I hit with a driver it just felt like ... it just cracked. I don't know exactly what happened, but there's something that happened and just couldn't move.' Hovland said he could barely stand over the ball and move his neck when he withdrew. 'Couldn't really do anything,' he said. ___
