Hovland offered a blunt assessment of his game prior to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. And though he shot 65 in Round 1, he knows there is a long way to go to turn things around.
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PEBBLEBEACH,Calif.–QuestioningViktorHovlandaboutthestateofhisgamehasbecomeanincreasinglyfascinatingexercise.
“Inmyopinion,Isuckatitrightnow,”hesaidthisweekatPebbleBeach.“Butthat’sallrelative.”
Highlyintelligent,deeplyself-awareandrefreshinglyhonest,Hovlandhasofferedsomevariationofthatresponseovermuchofthepastyear,justperhapsnotquitethatbluntly.It’sobvioushe’snotplayingaswellashedidinthesummerof2023,whenhecontendedinmajorsandnaileddowntheFedExCupandbecameabonafidestar.It’sclearhe’sfrustratedwithhowlongit’stakenhisswingtogetbackinshape.
But,ashesaid,it’sallrelative,too.Lastyearwastheworstofhiscareer…andyethestillnearlywonthePGAChampionship,reachedtheTourChampionshipandrankedamongtheTourleadersinball-striking.
“Iknowthere’salotofgoodgolfinmethatwillbethereinthefutureandthatI’veplayedinthepast,”hesaid