20 Things You Didn’t Know About Viktor Hovland
Get to know young Norwegian star Viktor Hovland a little better
The 2023 Tour Championship winner and up inside the world's top five heading into the new year, Viktor Hovland is undoubtedly one of the best players out there right now. But how much do you know about him?
Find a host of interesting facts regarding the Norwegian (there's one) and his life in our article below.
20 Things You Didn't Know About Viktor Hovland
1. He was born in Oslo, Norway.
2. His father, Harald, who became enamored with the game when he worked in the United States (St. Louis), exposed him to the game after buying a set of clubs upon his return to Norway.
3. He learned English by watching movies, including historical dramas 'Lincoln' and 'Amistad'.
4. At the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Hovland finished T-12th, the best amateur finish in 50 years, and became the first player since Matt Kuchar in 1998 to be the low amateur in both the Masters and the U.S. Open in the same year. His 280 score became the lowest score by an amateur at the U.S. Open.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
5. Hovland attended Oklahoma State University, just as Rickie Fowler did, where he was a teammate of fellow young professional golfer Matthew Wolff.
6. In 2019, he became the first ever Norwegian to appear at The Masters, where he also became the first ever Norwegian to make the cut.
7. He won the 2018 US Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach, beating Devon Bling in the final.
8. He turned pro as the World's No.1-ranked amateur after winning the low amateur honors at the Masters and US Open, becoming the first man since Matt Kuchar in 1998 to achieve that feat.
9. He also won the Ben Hogan Award in 2019 and was a three-time All American at college.
10. When it comes to music, Hovland is a heavy metal fan, with his favorite bands listed as Metallica, System of a Down and Tool.
11. The other sports he was interested in growing up were football and taekwondo.
12. In September 2019, he equalled Bob Estes' 1983 PGA Tour record of 17 consecutive rounds in the 60s.
13. His favorite golfer growing up was Sergio Garcia.
14. His favorite European course is Valderrama.
15. He represented Norway at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
16. He became the first Norwegian to play in the Ryder Cup.
17. He was also the first Norwegian male to reach the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking in August 2021.
18. In 2019 he broke Bob Estes' PGA Tour record of 17-consecutive rounds in the 60s, going two better in recording 19.
19. The Norwegian has previously been coached by the likes of Denny Lucas and Joe Mayo - the latter of whom he split with on the eve of the 2024 PGA Tour season.
20. Hovland's caddie is called Shay Knight - and the pair have worked together for over 15 years.
Sam is Golf Monthly's E-commerce Editor which mean's he oversees everything E-com related on the site.
This takes the form of creating and updating Buying Guides, reviews, and finding bargain prices for deals content.
Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes.
He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for, at a good price.
Additionally Sam oversees Golf Monthly voucher/coupon content which seeks to find you the best offers and promotions from well-known brands like Callaway, TaylorMade and many more.
Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a single-figure handicap.
-
LIV Golf Team Championship Format 2024
The LIV Golf Team Championship has a markedly different format to the regular events in the League season – here’s how it works
By Mike Hall Published
-
Report Claims LIV Golf Player Payments A Sticking Point In PGA Tour/PIF Talks
Bloomberg has reported that the issue over how to reintegrate LIV golfers onto the PGA Tour following their big-money moves to the newer circuit is proving problematic
By Mike Hall Published
-
Rasmus Hojgaard Facts: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About The DP World Tour Pro
Dane Rasmus Hojgaard is one of the rising stars of the game - get to know him a little better with these 20 facts
By Mike Hall Published
-
Calum Hill Facts: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The DP World Tour Pro
The Scottish golfer has claimed a number of wins since turning professional in 2017 - here are some facts about the DP World Tour player
By Mike Hall Published
-
Andrew 'Beef' Johnston Facts: 20 Things You Didn't Know About The English Golfer
Discover more about Andrew Johnston - commonly known as 'Beef' - via these facts about his life and career so far...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Cedric Gugler Facts: 8 Things You Didn't Know About The Swiss Golfer
Get to know Challenge and DP World Tour player, Cedric Gugler, with these eight facts
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Jordan Smith Facts: 15 Things You Didn't Know About The DP World Tour Pro
Jordan Smith took up golf late, but he soon made up for lost time with a rapid rise to prominence - here are 15 things you may not know about the DP World Tour pro
By Mike Hall Published
-
Alfredo Garcia-Heredia Facts: 14 Things You Didn't Know About The Spanish Golfer
Get to know experienced DP World Tour player, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, a little bit better with these 14 facts
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Alex Fitzpatrick Facts: 20 Things To Know About The English Golfer
Wake Forest alumnus Alex Fitzpatrick is carving out a successful career in Europe. Get to know him better with these facts...
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Hae Ran Ryu Facts: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The LPGA Tour Pro
The South Korean only earned her LPGA Tour card for the 2023 season, but she already has two wins on it – here’s what we know about her
By Mike Hall Published