Viktor Hovland is not afraid of the big moment in professional golf.
Hovland, tied for the lead with Aaron Wise at 19-under par, stared at a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the Mayakoba Open Sunday afternoon, knowing what it meant.
Make it for a second PGA Tour win. Miss and you’re in a playoff with Wise, who just finished his final round with a sizzling 63 — hottest player in the field.
There would be no playoff. For the second time in his career, with victory on the line, Hovland made birdie at the 72nd hole. This time he looked at a downhill, right-to-left 12- footer after hitting a wonderful approach with a pitching wedge from 148 yards. “I was shaking there at the end,” Hovland admitted with a big smile on his face. “I was playing very solid all day, it could have been a lot more stressful.”
It was stressful enough in this last regular PGA Tour event of 2020. Hovland played well on the front and with overnight leader Emiliano Grillo fading, Hovland stepped up with four front nine birdies that got him to 18-under at the turn. But he opened it up for Wise with a bogey at the 12th hole. He bounced back with birdies at 13 and 14. Wise birdied 15 to briefly hold the lead at 19-under until Hovland birdied 14 to tie him.
Hovland had a golden opportunity to take the lead after he his a nine-iron inside seven feet at the 156-yard 15th but he missed and stayed tied with Wise. Then came the difficult, 515-yard par four 16th. “I thought I lost it with the second at 16,” Hovland said, thinking back on a four-iron shot that he hung to the right and left himself with a more-than-difficult 40-yard bunker shot. He hit an amazing blast to five feet and saved par, a save that would preserve his chances.
After Wise posted 19-under, Hovland parred 17 then found the fairway at 18 then polished off the victory, giving him two wins in 2020 and giving notice that he’s one of the best young players on Tour heading into 2021’s long, super-season.
Wise was upbeat after Hovland’s winning putt. “Really proud of myself. I’ve played some incredible golf (this week) and played some bad golf. Today I hit every shot as good as I could, just didn’t get one more to go down.”
Wise posted the day’s low score — an eight-under par 63 that gave him his shot at a second win. But it was Hovland’s closing birdie for 65 that spelled the difference.
The leaderboard was packed with low scores except for Grillo, who shot 72 and went from overnight leader to a tie for eighth at 15-under par.
Adam Long and Tom Hoge finished at 17-under with Harris English, Billy Horschel and Lucas Glover at minus-16.
This was a week where Hovland waited in the shadows the first three days. After shooting 67-69 he was only six-under through 36 and his Saturday 63 was overshadowed by Justin Thomas shooting 62.
Thomas was supposed to step up on Sunday. When you’re No. 3 in the world, it was expected. Instead, J.T. was no factor — his 69 left him at 14-under, tied for 12th and looking like an underachiever.
As for Hovland, the kid is clutch.
Two wins and both with birdies on the 72nd hole.
And at Mayakoba, no one’s ever done that in the history of the event.
Merry Mayakoba, Viktor Hovland!
