Viktor Hovland has reminded everyone of just how good he is over the first three days at the Travelers Championship, with the Norwegian one shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler going into the final round at TPC River Highlands.
Many would have been forgiven for assuming that Scheffler was on course to win for a second time this season after the world number one took the lead into the weekend in Connecticut. However, a two-shot swing on the 18th hole ensured that it is Hovland who leads going into Sunday.
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Hovland’s performance appears to have come from nowhere. He was at Shinnecock Hills over the weekend of the US Open, but that was so he could practice on the range after missing the cut.
Five of the seven missed cuts Hovland has had in the majors across his career have come since the start of the 2024 season.
But there is reason for optimism for the 28-year-old. And perhaps there is reason for Scottie Scheffler to be just a little concerned.
Viktor Hovland may finally be ready to pick up where he left off in 2023
When Hovland chipped in on the opening hole of the 2023 Ryder Cup, it felt like confirmation that the best player on the planet at that time was ready to step up for Europe.
Hovland had an incredible 2023 season. He finished inside the top 20 at all four majors, including in a tie for second at the PGA Championship.
He also won three times after the start of June on the PGA Tour, including at Memorial and the Tour Championship.
Hovland won 3.5 points at the Ryder Cup, with the high point coming as he and Ludvig Aberg set a new record for the largest winning margin in an 18-hole match in the event’s history.
It was, of course, Scheffler and Brooks Koepka who were soundly beaten 9&7 at Marco Simone.
The driving and putting statistics that suggest that Viktor Hovland has figured things out
Unfortunately, Hovland seems destined to be a player who is never fully satisfied with his game. That is unlikely to change regardless of what he achieves in his career.
However, fans of his will desperately hope that this performance at the Travelers Championship convinces Hovland that there is no need for further dramatic overhauls of his game.
He also finished third at the RBC Canadian Open the week before the third major of the year.
Hovland went into the Travelers Championship in 104th on the PGA Tour for strokes gained off the tee, while he was down in 84th for putting.
He is fourth for strokes gained off the tee this week, according to Data Golf, while no one has been better on the greens.
| Strokes gained category | Viktor Hovland’s PGA Tour rank (2026 season) | Viktor Hovland (Travelers Championship) |
| Off the tee | 104th | 4th |
| Approach | 18th | 7th |
| Around the green | 49th | 37th |
| Tee to green | 34th | 2nd |
| Putting | 84th | 1st |
| Total | 47th | 1st |
A potential sign of what is to come for Scottie Scheffler
Obviously, there are still 18 holes to play, but Hovland can take so much confidence from his performance this week, particularly as he is going toe to toe with Scheffler.
While Scheffler has only won once this year, he is leading the FedEx Cup right now after an amazing season.
It would be fantastic for the PGA Tour if Hovland was ready to stop most of the tinkering and make the most of the phenomenal talent that he possesses.
A win this week would remind everyone that it was Hovland who looked destined to take over the world at the end of 2023 rather than Scheffler.
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