19th Hole

‘Just haven’t been able to hit the shots that I want to’ – Viktor Hovland reveals his frustrations with his swing

Published

2 weeks ago

Mar 7, 2024

Viktor Hovland closed out 2023 as one of the hottest players in the world. The Norwegian won the BMW Championship and TOUR Championship in back-to-back weeks, cementing himself as one of the best players in the world.

However, Hovland hasn’t begun 2024 quite as well as he’d anticipated. In his three starts this year, he’s finished T22, T58 and T19. Although he’s been good off the tee, his iron game isn’t quite where it was last year, and he’s lost strokes on approach in a small sample size.

While speaking with the media prior to his start at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Hovland revealed that he is currently unhappy with his swing.

“It’s been a little bit frustrating so far this year. Feel like my swing hasn’t been quite as good as it has been in previous years, so it’s been, felt like I’ve tried to prioritize just being home and practicing, putting a lot of work in.”

“It’s just the mechanics of the swing. Just haven’t been able to hit the shots that I want to,” Hovland said. “When you’re seeing a shot, and your swing is not producing those shots, it becomes very tough to compete, especially at this level.”

Hovland went on to say that he believes his swing was better in 2021 than it was last season, which was his best season as a professional.

“I actually prefer my golf swing better in 2021, kind of early 2021 I feel like my ball striking was the best. Now don’t get me wrong, I definitely swung it well last year, but it wasn’t as good as I would have wanted.”

As for the swing changes he’s currently working on with coach, Hovland was reluctant to go too deep, but revealed:

“I don’t want to get too into it, but I’m just like — basically, I’m just pressuring the ground a little bit differently and, yeah, just doing a couple things different off the ball that is causing a chain reaction. So, it’s just a matter of trying to get the swing started the right way, and I should be able to find my groove from there.”

Despite his relative struggles, Hovland is still amongst the favorites at Bay Hill. Last year he finished in a tie for 10th and in 2022 he finished in a tie for 2nd.

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19th Hole

Rory McIlroy takes shot at Greg Norman while discussing Monday’s Saudi PIF meeting

Published

2 hours ago

Mar 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Rory McIlroy has recently changed his tune on both LIV and the Saudi Arabian PIF, but according to recent comments, he still isn’t a big fan of LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman.

While speaking to the media after his final round of the PLAYERS Championship, McIlroy expressed optimism for PIF Governor Yasir al-Rumayyan’s intentions in the game of golf.

“They’re a sovereign wealth fund. They want to park money for decades and not worry about it,” McIlroy said of the PIF.

“They want to invest in smart and secure businesses, and the PGA Tour is definitely one of those, especially if they’re looking to invest in sport in some way.I have spent time with Yasir. I think the people who have represented him in LIV have done him a disservice, so Norman and those guys.”

Reportedly, a meeting will be taking place in Ponte Vedra today with the PGA Tour Board of Directors and the PIF. According to Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, that meeting will include Tiger Woods.

“I think it should have happened months ago, so I am glad it’s happening,” Rory said.

“Hopefully that progresses conversations and gets us closer to a solution.”

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19th Hole

Scottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory

Published

3 hours ago

Mar 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

After Scottie Scheffler’s incredibly impressive victory at the PLAYERS Championship, he spoke on camera about his approach.

Related: Wyndham Clark impresses fans with post-round act following Players Championship heartbreak

Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee asked the world number one “how do you quiet the noise?”

Scheffler replied, “I just try to do my best to stay in my own little world. You know, I don’t have social media, I spend most of my time on Apple News.”

Scheffler added that he clicks “not for me” when golf articles come up to ensure that he doesn’t see anything regarding golf news.

“I really just do my best to stay out of reading things that are either good or bad about myself. If I’m reading bad things about myself, it’ll frustrate me. If I read good things about myself, my head will get too big. So, I really do my best to stay out of the fray and continue to put in the work”.

.@THEPLAYERS champion Scottie Scheffler outlines his secret to remaining focused and blocking out the noise. ?? #THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/6zWtKMvw99

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 18, 2024

Scheffler’s approach has clearly been a good one, as he’s playing some of the best golf of any professional in recent memory.

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19th Hole

Wyndham Clark impresses fans with post-round act following Players Championship heartbreak

Published

4 hours ago

Mar 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The PLAYERS Championship certainly delivered an exciting finish, with Scottie Scheffler charging from five shots back to start the day to win The PLAYERS for a second consecutive season.

On the 18th hole, Wyndham Clark had a putt to tie the event and sent it to a playoff, but the ball went halfway down before narrowly lipping out at the last second.

One … shot … short … ?

Heartbreak for Wyndham Clark on the 72nd hole @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/6d1Qa3elOa

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2024

Despite of the heartbreaking defeat, Clark stayed back and signed autographs for fans.

Despite a heartbreaking defeat, Wyndham Clark still made time for the fans. ? pic.twitter.com/uG7KZQ4xTZ

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) March 17, 2024

Plenty of fans took to social media to express gratitude for Clark showing such class after such a difficult result.

This and the kind of man he showed himself to be in Full Swing may make him one of the top ten most popular golfers in the world.

— Joe from Simsbury (@SimsburyJoe) March 17, 2024

Beyond class. His time will come. Good things happen to good people

— Theodore J Prushinski (@TPrushinski) March 18, 2024

Clark’s appearance on Full Swing season 2 along with his ability to play well in big events have made him quickly rise to the top of the fan favorite list on the PGA Tour.