This one was just a matter of time.
With Matthew Wolff and Colin Morikawa already on the list of PGA Tour winners, Viktor Hovland was probably feeling left out.
His time came on Sunday at the Puerto Rico Open.
Hovland shook off a triple-bogey on the back nine and earned his first tour win with a dramatic 30-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole at the Grand Reserve Country Club.
After battling back with an eagle at the par five 15th, Hovland was tied with journeyman Josh Teater as the rain fell on the final hole. Hovland stepped up to his long birdie putt and drained it for a two-under par 70 and a 20-under total that edged Teater by a shot.
Hovland started the final round with a one-shot leader over Teater. His wedge shot inot the 18th came up short but he buried the winning putt.
“I hit some really good shots down the stretch,” Hovland said. “The putt on the last was just a bonus.”
Hovland won the 2018 U.S. Amateur and became the first player in more than 20 years to take low amateur honors at both the Masters and U.S. Open. He turned pro in June and nearly secured a PGA Tour card at the end of last season via non-member FedExCup points. Now Hovland is fully exempt through 2022 and has earned spots in The Players and PGA Championship later this spring.
He’s also expected to move into the top 60 in the latest world rankings, with the top 50 at the end of March invited to the Masters.
“Obviously you’re trying to win every week, but I mean, to just do it, it’s incredible,” Hovland said. “It’s a special feeling.”
Teater, 40, is playing this season on conditional status and was looking for his first career PGA Tour win in his 193rd start. But his 15-foot birdie putt at the 18th came up short.
 At Last -- Hovland Comes Through In Puerto Rico){kind=link}
2 Comments
baxter cepeda
Hovland seems like a great player to give a special invite to the Masters if he cannot quite crack the top 5o in time.
Tom Edrington
Those are pretty hard to come by…..