Viktor Hovland is unsure what the future of men’s pro golf looks like.
In that location, he is not by himself. You are familiar with the inquiries. What will happen to the ongoing battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, which has now spanned three seasons? Which professional golfers will go where? Who will stay? Will there be a resolution between LIV’s supporter, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, and the Tour? Or will there not be? What will be the outcome of the Tour’s billion-dollar agreement with a consortium of owners from other sports? The questions go on and on.
Having said that, there is a aspect of golf in the present moment that frustrates Hovland. The fourth-ranked player in the world used terms like soulless and sad.
This week, Hovland was engaged in a conversation with his long-time instructor Claude Harmon III on Harmon’s podcast, Son of a Butch (which you can listen to here), and towards the end, Hovland was posed a question for which he did not have an answer, but he did have thoughts nonetheless. Harmon had pondered: Where does Hovland see golf heading?
He didn’t know.
But he was sure of this.
Hovland expressed his views on the LIV, acknowledging its financial impact on the sport and the healthy competition it brings. However, he also mentioned his concern about the focus on money by the PGA Tour, emphasizing the importance of fair compensation without it overshadowing the essence of the game each week.
So what should be?
Hovland initiated his response with an anecdote, clarifying that he harbored no negative feelings towards the John Deere Classic. However, he proposed that if the JDC were to increase its winner’s prize to $6 million, it would undoubtedly be a positive development.
Nonetheless, Hovland expressed a preference for winning a tournament like the Memorial. He highlighted his victory at the Memorial last year as a testament to his sentiment.
Harmon echoed Hovland’s sentiment, emphasizing the significance of history, the golf course, and the presence of Jack Nicklaus in tournaments like the Memorial.
In agreement, Hovland and Harmon discussed Dustin Johnson’s interest in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, a tournament that Johnson won in 2017. Harmon mentioned that Johnson’s admiration for the course further solidified his point.
Hovland holds a similar sentiment towards the Memorial, a prominent event on the Tour, held at the esteemed Muirfield Village course and hosted by Nicklaus, the legendary golfer with the most major wins in history.
Hovland reiterated his main point.
“Yes, that’s the key,” Hovland expressed during the podcast. “You will always cherish the memories of winning that tournament, seeing your name engraved on the trophy, and reflecting on the history of all the past champions.”
Harmon added, “Having Jack Nicklaus present when you finish.”
According to Hovland, he finds it impressive and acknowledges the financial benefits of his profession. However, he believes that solely focusing on the paycheck at the end of the week feels empty and lacking in substance. He admits that he is unsure about the future and feels a tinge of sadness, but he tries not to dwell on it too much. He finds the current state of the game of golf somewhat amusing, but he hopes for a resolution in the future. Ultimately, his desire is to compete at the finest golf courses, in the best tournaments, against the top players.
He emphasizes that this is his simple aspiration, although he is uncertain about how it will come to fruition.
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