The 2023 Ryder Cup is underway, and in Viktor Hovland, Group Europe have a secret weapon.
Group USA are the defending champions after victory in 2021, however Europe possess a superb residence report, and the Norwegian is considered one of their main lights.
Hovland is the world’s present quantity 4 and is a contender for Participant of the 12 months after successful the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup in August earlier this yr.
The 26-year-old appears to be like to be heading to the very prime, and the 2023 Ryder Cup might show to be a defining second.
Hovland was born in Oslo, Norway and began enjoying soccer, but it surely was by no means a sport that grabbed his consideration.
He said: “I used to be an honest defender.
“I had a blast doing that, however I wasn’t too critical about it. It was simply to hang around with my class buddies.”
However golf was very totally different from the second he began enjoying.
Hovland first picked up a set of golf equipment at age 11 whereas within the USA along with his dad, Harald.
And from that time, he was hooked.
5
“I used to be useless set on enjoying golf from the age of 12,” he mentioned.
“It may be fairly miserable within the winter and, when the winter got here, I mentioned to my dad, ‘I wish to hit balls indoors. I don’t simply wish to play in the summertime after which not play for 4 months’.
“I had a couple of different juniors my age and we have been capable of preserve it enjoyable.”
From there, it was a speedy stand up the ranks till he turned skilled in 2019.
The 26-year-old now lives in Oklahoma and has since gained six PGA occasions, two European ones and a few others.
He’s but to be victorious at a Main, however that may certainly observe.
5
In his comparatively brief profession, the Norwegian has established himself as one of the crucial distinctive characters on the circuit.
He is at all times pictured with a smile on his face, making it seem as if he is not taking issues too severely.
However that is not the case in any respect, and he is earned the nickname ‘smiling murderer’ due to his calm manner coupled with ruthless competitiveness.
He’s a participant a lot admired by his fellow professionals.
Rory McIlroy is considered one of his largest followers and praised Hovalnd’s potential in 2021.
He mentioned: “He is among the finest gamers on this planet.”
Nonetheless, his style in music has confirmed to be much less widespread than his {golfing} potential.
5
The Norwegian is a big fan of heavy metallic and hardcore music.
He makes use of it when practising, however his fellow Group Europe teammates do not get it in any respect.
Forward of the Ryder Cup getting underway, Hovland was requested to call his present favorite music.
He chosen ‘Instill’ by Humanity’s Final Breath.
His teammates then sat and listened to the song and everybody, bar Justin Rose, hated it.
McIlroy mentioned: “That’s like essentially the most horrific factor I’ve ever heard in my life. The music and the beats are okay, however when the man begins to sing, it’s horrendous.”
5
And as if anybody else wanted to know, Hovland demonstrated his ridiculous potential with an unimaginable hole-in-one on a par 4 throughout one of many closing practise rounds earlier than the Ryder Cup received underway.
The Norwegian is a singular character, however he’s considered one of Europe’s finest gamers, and if they’re to win, he must be on the prime of his sport.
And given the yr he is had, it might be a significant shock if this does not transform Hovland’s match.
The 2023 Ryder Cup tees off in Rome this Friday and we’ll have full commentary on talkSPORT 2 from 6am
talkSPORT BET Provide Of The Day
Rise up to £40 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
18+ New clients solely. Choose in, wager as much as £40 (min. £20) on chosen occasions at odds of two.00+, in 7 days. Rise up to £40 in free bets on chosen occasions. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card funds solely. T&Cs apply, see beneath. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
SEE ALL FREE BETS HERE
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;
n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,
document,’script’,’https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘752905198150451’);
fbq(‘track’, “PageView”);
Information Abstract:
- Viktor Hovland is golf’s unassuming smiling murderer, loves heavy metallic music, in type of his life and set to be Group Europe’s secret weapon
- Examine all information and articles from the most recent Golf updates.