Q. First begin right here on TOUR in a few weeks since Riviera. Simply total state of your sport coming into this week.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s been a bit of bit irritating to date this yr. Really feel like my swing hasn’t been fairly nearly as good because it has been in earlier years, so it’s been, felt like I’ve tried to prioritize simply being dwelling and training, placing loads of work in. Don’t actually need to struggle by way of one thing whereas enjoying, it’s simply not that enjoyable, and I don’t see the purpose of it. Simply been prioritizing time at dwelling and, yeah, simply taking good care of the basics.
Q. Rising up in Norway, who’re the skilled golfers that you just seemed as much as most if you had been first began enjoying?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I feel each child my age sort of seemed as much as Tiger, the those who received concerned with the sport. I simply bear in mind watching all of the YouTube highlights, watching his fist pumps and all that stuff. Definitely a number of highlights from this occasion as properly, simply watching him make putts on 18. He was an enormous inspiration, after all.
Henrik Bjørnstad, the primary male golfer from Norway to play on the PGA TOUR. Suzann Pettersen performed the LPGA for awhile. They sort of confirmed that it was attainable to play golf professionally coming from Norway. Simply because we now have unhealthy climate doesn’t imply we are able to’t compete.
Q. To go along with what you stated about being annoyed, is it your precise swing or is it the outcomes that you just’re annoyed with?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Simply the mechanics. It’s simply the mechanics of the swing. Simply haven’t been capable of hit the photographs that I need to. Clearly, you need to have good outcomes, however if you’re seeing a shot and your swing isn’t producing these photographs, it turns into very robust to compete, particularly at this stage. I feel the outcomes are simply, clearly they’re not the very best, but it surely’s like they mirror what you’re doing when issues aren’t nice. So it’s, not assured with my sport, and then you definitely’re simply making an attempt to take advantage of out of it. You’re enjoying defensive golf as an alternative of aggressive or assured. That’s mainly what I simply received to get again to. If I can stand on the vary or on a golf course, see a shot and execute that shot, that provides me confidence. Then, whether or not I completed fifth or tenth or twentieth, no matter it may be, that’s not an important factor, an important factor is that you just see the photographs that you just’re hitting and you’ve got perception that you just’re going to try this repeatedly.
Q. Have you ever gone by way of one thing like this earlier than? I do know you’re younger, however…
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, no, it’s sort of humorous, I’ve spent loads of hours simply trying again at my golf swings from 2019 after I first turned professional, and sort of seeing the evolution of my swing. It’s very attention-grabbing. I’ve had loads of a number of completely different patterns, and I’ve been capable of make loads of various things work. I might say this sample that I’ve received occurring now’s a bit of bit, it’s completely different another way. So, it’s been a bit of bit more difficult.
However I’ll say, credit score to myself, I’m excellent at making issues work. I feel I’m gifted in that approach, but it surely positively helps when the swing can be in a great place. So, we received a bit of bit of labor to do, however that’s sort of a problem and it’s enjoyable.
Q. I do know it’s nowhere close to this simple, however do you ever simply say to your self, why don’t I simply do what I used to be doing in August after I was on that nice run? I imply, do you simply attempt to get again to that, and is that simply actually onerous to duplicate?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s going to sound a bit of dumb, however I truly favor my golf swing higher in 2021, sort of early 2021 I really feel like my ball hanging was the very best. I feel — now don’t get me fallacious, I positively swung it properly final yr, but it surely wasn’t nearly as good as I might have wished. I used to be sort of enjoying extra of a draw as an alternative of enjoying the conventional reduce shot that I’ve been my complete profession. I used to be sort of combating that each one all through final yr. I simply advised myself, Okay, I’m simply going to play the draw and simply stick with that. That clearly labored properly.
The chipping change was what actually helped me win these tournaments. As a result of even at Memorial I didn’t actually really feel like my ball hanging was that nice. PGA was actually good, despite the fact that I struggled a bit of bit off the tee. East Lake, clearly, and BMW, I put all of it collectively. It was a mix of all the pieces, it wasn’t simply very good ball hanging, and it was simply, I did all the pieces fairly properly.
Q. Additionally, you set your self within the combine a number of instances now within the majors. Does that provide you with any consolation in any respect or is the swing points a much bigger deal in relation to that?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, clearly, the expertise issues. I really feel like subsequent time I’m in that state of affairs I’m going to be dealing with, I’m going to deal with the state of affairs higher, simply because I’ve been there, I’ve made some very nice putts in good moments. I feel Ryder Cup was an amazing factor to be part of. Simply being in that setting and to deal with that strain in addition to I did. On the finish of the day, you may solely get to date with expertise and that stuff, you bought to execute. The green’s 25, 30 yards vast, you bought to have the ability to begin the ball left and reduce it, in my case, to hit the golf green persistently. So, if you happen to can’t try this, then we’ve received some points.
Q. So, again to the hanging half. For those who gained Memorial largely with chipping and weren’t at your greatest, is there nonetheless, you’re nonetheless glad with profitable?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, after all. I imply, on the finish of the day, you need to win.
Q. Are you able to settle for that if you’re profitable with out your greatest stuff? Do you continue to really feel simply nearly as good popping out of a match than ending fifth and hitting it nice?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, I assume that’s sort of the insane a part of my mind is that I simply take pleasure in flushing a golf shot. Clearly, we’re out right here to compete and win tournaments, however I actually simply cherish having the ability to hit the photographs precisely the best way I need to. I feel it’s a greater predictor of the way you’re going to play sooner or later.
Now, I feel I received to do a superb job of telling myself that, Hey, I simply gained an enormous match with out feeling excellent about my ball hanging. On the finish of the day, we’re golfers, we’re not ball strikers. So, I feel that’s, I received to pat myself on the again and inform myself, Okay, despite the fact that my swing doesn’t really feel nice proper now, I can nonetheless compete. That’s essential to recollect, however on the similar time you need to play properly each week. The best way you play properly each week is with good ball hanging. Typically you make some foolish up-and-downs otherwise you make a few chip photographs or 50 foot putts, one thing like that, these are large for momentum to win tournaments, however you’re not going to try this persistently week in, week out. But when your swing and fundamentals are in a great place, you may truly be in these conditions each single week, if you happen to’re simply hitting the ball on the nostril.
Q. Then one different factor, by the best way, are you continue to residing in Stillwater or did you progress lastly?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Nonetheless have my home there, however I’ve been in Palm Seaside the final couple months.
Q. Final yr was a reasonably dynamic match right here. What’s the distinction between this yr and final yr as a signature occasion this yr? Is it simply the scale of the sphere, is there greater than that, or what?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Proper now it simply feels a bit of bit extra quiet on the occasion. It’s onerous to sort of inform the way it’s going to be within the match. That’s sort of the best way that I collect from not less than from Riviera and this week, it nonetheless appears like the identical match, just some much less guys. So, it feels, I don’t know, possibly a bit of bit extra chilled earlier than the match begins. You may sort of, it’s approach simpler to organize for the occasion. You may exit and play holes rather a lot faster. Apply amenities are open. From that standpoint it’s sort of good. It feels good and quiet.
Q. Would you prefer to be in Nick Dunlap’s sneakers and be a single to start out a match or would that really feel bizarre to you?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Are you able to repeat that?
Q. Nick Dunlap. Would you prefer to be in his sneakers and go off as a single on Thursday morning the primary day of a match?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Is that what he’s doing?
Q. Yeah. I don’t assume that’s his selection, I don’t know.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I’ve by no means achieved that earlier than. I feel that feels a bit of bit bizarre, however yeah, however on the similar time that’s like going out and training for your self. I don’t know. Yeah, it will be bizarre.
Q. The made reduce right here again in 2019, how a lot did it change sort of your view of your self?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, that was actually cool, as a result of after I performed, I performed Mayakoba as an beginner, I missed the reduce there by a shot. Truly felt like I performed fairly properly, however didn’t make any putts.
Then I took a break. I went again dwelling to Norway. I got here again out. I didn’t, I barely had every week enjoying on grass earlier than I performed Torrey Pines. That’s a troublesome subject and a troublesome golf course. I missed the reduce there by a pair photographs with out actually enjoying all that nice. Then I got here out right here, had my greatest buddy caddieing on the bag, we had a good time, completed fortieth, someplace round there. Once more, I didn’t actually really feel like I performed all that nice. So, that was an enormous sort of turning second that, man, I can compete with these guys out right here, despite the fact that I’m not all that pleased with my sport, however I’m nonetheless, I can nonetheless make cuts and be aggressive.
Q. Swing-wise, are you working with anybody proper now, are you interviewing guys or simply doing it your self?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: What did you say?
Q. Swing coach-wise, are you working with anybody, are you interviewing guys trying round or doing it your self?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I’ve been working with Grant Waite now for a pair months. So, we’re placing in some good work.
Q. Why have you ever jumped round to so many various coaches in the previous couple of years in your swing?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I’m very curious man. I prefer to ask questions. Typically if you ask a query and also you get some solutions, that leads you down a unique path and opens up some new questions and also you pursue a unique path. I simply need to sort of see the place it goes. I at all times like to enhance and develop my data, and it simply occurred to steer me right down to Grant Waite.
Q. Is there something particular that drew you to him?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Clearly his data may be very spectacular, he is aware of what he’s speaking about. On the similar time, he’s had enjoying experiences himself. He’s gained on the PGA TOUR. He, yeah, one factor is sort of figuring out the 3D knowledge and no matter, what the information says, however then additionally equating that to feels, and we are able to sort of discuss on that stage as properly. I discover that very useful. So, yeah, a mixture of each worlds.
Q. Why did you determine to depart Stillwater and transfer to Florida?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: The climate is an enormous one. It’s simply, it’s onerous to beat it for golf, particularly this time of yr. This has sort of been a tough winter in Stillwater. Simply not nice for training. Though I really like Oklahoma. Summertime it’s nice, and I definitely miss the folks there. I do discover it simpler, if I need to return dwelling to Norway, it’s a direct flight from Miami. I can have household and buddies come down and hang around. It’s a bit of bit tougher for them to come back to Stillwater, and, yeah, there’s not a lot to do there both, so not less than in Florida there’s a bit of bit extra we are able to do.
Q. Curious, after the 2021 Ryder Cup you misplaced a few teammates to LIV, after which after an amazing Ryder Cup in Rome, Jon left and Tyrrell left. Simply questioning how a lot you be in contact with them, do you miss ’em out right here, or had been you simply, at match time, do you simply do your personal factor and it wasn’t as a lot dialog and mingling and so forth?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, I’ve received my very own group and, clearly, after I’m out right here I’m working fairly onerous. So I’m sort of, I wouldn’t say I’m like tremendous social out right here, I sort of present up and do my factor. However I definitely miss loads of these guys that we had some nice reminiscences from Whistling Straits and in Rome, so definitely miss these guys, however want them the very best and hopefully I’ll get to see them quickly.
Q. The large query clearly the final day or so was the World Rating query and LIV not going after that accreditation any extra. Simply marvel the place you landed on, does it actually matter at this level with the OWGR, how vital it’s, how vital it’s to you, even when these guys aren’t included?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, rankings are rankings, they’re not goal reality. They’re, , created to attempt to rank folks the very best they will. Clearly, now when you have got an enormous chunk of actually, actually good gamers that aren’t getting any rating factors, it positively devalues that rating. So, on the finish of the day, I don’t present up out right here to attempt to enhance my World Rating, I present up as a result of I need to win this match and that’s it.
Q. Again to your swing points. Is it airplane, is it, , going this fashion, that approach?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I don’t need to get too into it, however I’m similar to — mainly, I’m simply pressuring the bottom a bit of bit in a different way and, yeah, simply doing a pair issues completely different off the ball that’s inflicting a sequence response. So, it’s only a matter of making an attempt to get the swing began the correct approach, and I ought to be capable to discover my groove from there.
Q. Additionally, there have been loads of Norwegians who went to the Olympics, however winter Olympics principally. It seems to be like you have got a superb probability of representing Norway within the Olympics. What sort of pleasure would that create for you and your loved ones?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I received to play in Japan a number of years again, and that was an amazing expertise, despite the fact that COVID sort of put a tamper on the occasion with no followers on the market and felt like a bizarre match. What was actually cool was staying within the Olympic Village, seeing all the opposite athletes, interacting with Workforce Norway and sort of simply, despite the fact that we didn’t get to exit and root for ’em in competitions, we’d take note of see who gained a medal and all that stuff. So, actually simply felt such as you had been part of a group, you’re representing your nation. Clearly, Norway has a really proud Olympic tradition and historical past. I grew up watching the cross nation skiers and biathletes and ski jumpers win medals, so it’s cool to sort of be an Olympic athlete and characterize my nation and be an element which have historical past.
