PGA Tour superstar Viktor Hovland refused to discuss why he decided to part ways with his long-time swing coach ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Viktor Hovland declined to disclose the reasons behind his separation from his longtime swing coach Joe Mayo when questioned by reporters.
News of the Norwegian PGA Tour sensation’s split from the golf instructor emerged in January prior to The Sentry tournament.
Mayo was widely recognized for his role in the significant improvement of Hovland’s performance, leading to his remarkable success during the 2022-2023 season.
Prior to Mayo’s involvement, Hovland openly acknowledged his challenges, especially with his short game, stating, “I struggle with chipping.”
However, since Mayo started coaching Hovland, he achieved great success by winning the FedEx Cup championship. However, his recent performances on the golf course have been disappointing, and he doesn’t seem to be playing at his usual level.
At The Sentry, he finished tied for 22nd place, followed by a T-58 finish at the rain-affected AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and a tie for 19th at the Genesis Invitational.
In the past few months, Hovland has been used to being a top contender in tournaments.
Hovland mentioned to reporters before the Arnold Palmer Invitational that he’s struggling to hit the shots he wants. He admitted to playing defensively instead of confidently and aggressively. “I need to get back to that mindset,” he explained.
He emphasized the importance of regaining his ability to visualize a shot, execute it, and gain confidence from it.
Hovland shared that he sought help from Grant Waite after parting ways with Mayo, but he declined to comment further on the split.
Hovland was questioned by a reporter about his frequent changes in coaches for his swing over the past few years.
I’m a naturally curious person,” Hovland responded.
“I enjoy asking questions. Sometimes, when you ask a question and receive answers, it sparks new questions and leads you in a different direction.
“I’m always looking to learn and grow, so I like to explore different paths. In this case, it led me to Grant Waite.”
Hovland mentioned that it is advantageous that Waite is a PGA Tour winner.
Waite has taught notable players such as LIV’s Charles Howell III, Trevor Immelman, Brian Gay, and Mike Weir.
According to SI, Mayo was the one who introduced Hovland to Waite.
Hovland expressed his gratitude, saying, “I give credit to Joe because golf instruction is not always straightforward. There isn’t always a right or wrong answer. When you’re working with a skilled player, you want to ensure you’re providing valuable advice.”
Joe reached out to a select few individuals, those he had complete faith in, and Grant happened to be one of them.
Hovland is making his debut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational after he openly expressed his concerns about the ongoing division in men’s golf, calling out the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Leave a Reply