In Palm Harbor, Florida, on a challenging Sunday at Innisbrook, Viktor Hovland discovered a crucial swing that propelled him to victory in the Valspar Championship by edging out Justin Thomas. Hovland’s late surge, marked by three birdies, culminated in a final round of 4-under 67, securing a one-stroke triumph.
Having altered his coaching strategy five times since claiming the FedEx Cup at East Lake in 2023, Hovland faced uncertainties about his form. Arriving at the tournament with little expectation of winning, he candidly admitted, “I honestly did not believe I could do it this week.”
The competition remained fierce until the end, with Hovland and Thomas creating separation from a tightly contested field where nine golfers shared the lead at different stages. Trailing by three strokes, Hovland ignited his comeback on the par-5 14th hole with a remarkable 12-foot birdie putt. He then executed a precise 7-iron shot to the pin on the 16th, considered Innisbrook’s most challenging hole, setting up a birdie that drew him level with Thomas.
Hovland’s aggressive approach continued on the par-3 17th hole, where he struck his tee shot to within 12 feet, converting another birdie. This strategic play widened his lead to two shots as Thomas faltered under pressure.
Thomas, after a stretch of four birdies in five holes, found himself ahead by three strokes upon leaving the 15th green. However, a misjudgment led him to opt for a driver on the 16th hole, resulting in a wayward shot into the trees that forced a chip-out to the fairway. Leaving himself a challenging up-and-down from a bunker, Thomas did well to escape with a bogey.
As Hovland caught him on the 16th, Thomas’s drive on the 18th landed in thick rough, resulting in another bogey. Despite being 7-under through 15 holes, Thomas concluded with a round of 66.
Approaching the 18th cautiously with a two-shot advantage, Hovland secured his victory with a bogey, bringing his total to 11-under 273. This marked his seventh career win and elevated him back into the world’s top 10 rankings.
Reflecting on the triumph, Hovland expressed relief and surprise at having navigated his recent struggles. “I hit a lot of disgusting shots, but they happened to go where I looked,” Hovland stated. His form leading up to the Valspar Championship included missed cuts, notably an 80 in the opening round of the Players Championship, and he had not cleared a 36-hole cut against a full field since the previous summer’s Scottish Open.
Jacob Bridgeman, who was part of the leading trio entering the final round, needed a miraculous finish to secure a playoff. Falling just short, he concluded with a par on the 18th, finishing third.
Other top performers included Bud Cauley, Billy Horschel, and Ryo Hisatsune, who shared fourth place. Horschel delivered a remarkable recovery shot from a difficult lie against a tree on the fifth hole, using a left-handed swing with an inverted 9-iron to reach the green, subsequently sinking a birdie from over 30 feet.
