Viktor Hovland Wins Tour Championship and Becomes FedEx Cup Champion
▲ Hoblan Game
Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland emerged victorious at the Tour Championship, marking the end of the US Professional Golf PGA Tour season. Hovland’s exceptional performance not only secured him the championship title but also earned him the prestigious FedEx Cup for the 2022-2023 season.
In the thrilling final four rounds held at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, Hovland showcased his remarkable skills, shooting a remarkable 7-under-par 63. With seven birdies and no bogeys, he secured a total score of 27-under-par, defeating second-place finisher Xander Schauffele of the United States by a margin of five strokes.
As the champion, Hovland received a substantial bonus of $18 million (approximately 23.85 billion KRW) and was presented with the coveted FedEx Cup, symbolizing his status as the season’s ultimate champion.
The Tour Championship serves as the final event of the season, where the top 30 golfers in the FedExCup standings compete for the ultimate prize. Based on their season performance, players are granted a “bonus number of strokes” to align the tournament winner with the FedEx Cup champion. The leader of the FedEx Cup standings begins the first round at 10-under-par, while the second-place player starts at 8-under-par.
Hovland, who was the runner-up in the FedEx Cup standings leading up to the BMW Championship, began the Tour Championship at 8-under-par. Over the course of four days, he displayed exceptional skill and determination, finishing 19 strokes ahead of his competitors.
Tied for the lead after rounds one and two, Hovland took sole control of the tournament with a remarkable performance in round three, creating a six-stroke lead over Schauffele. He maintained his composure on the final day and successfully defended his position as the frontrunner.
At the age of 25, turning 26 next month, Hovland made his PGA Tour debut in the 2019-2020 season. This victory marks his first playoff championship in his fourth year on the tour. Notably, Hovland became the first-ever Norwegian to win a PGA Tour event at the 2020 Puerto Rico Open and has now secured the distinction of being Norway’s first PGA Tour FedEx Cup champion.
Hovland’s triumph at the Tour Championship comes on the heels of his win at the BMW Championship in the previous week, making it his second consecutive victory on the PGA Tour. In total, Hovland has triumphed in six career victories, including this year’s Memorial Tournament in June.
Despite a delay of 1 hour and 50 minutes due to inclement weather, Hovland showcased his skills with impressive birdie putts on the first hole and consecutively on holes 4 to 6. Schauffele also displayed exceptional play, achieving five birdies in the front nine, resulting in a five-stroke gap between the two contenders.
In the back nine, although Hovland faced challenges in reducing the gap, Schauffele managed two crucial birdies on holes 11 and 12, intensifying the competition. Hovland faced a precarious situation on the 14th hole but managed to secure a par. Meanwhile, Schauffele clenched his fists triumphantly after a demanding par putt.
On the next hole, Schauffele had an opportunity for a birdie from about 4.5m, which was shorter than Hovland’s putt. However, Schauffele’s putt fell short, resulting in a par and tilting the victory in Hovland’s favor.
Even on the 16th hole, Schauffele faced disappointment as his birdie putt lacked strength, while Hovland sealed his success with another birdie, displaying exceptional skill with a wedge shot.
Hovland concluded his remarkable performance with birdies on the final two holes, 17 (par 4) and 18 (par 5).
Although Schauffele fell short of capturing the championship, he displayed his strength and skill, having previously achieved second place in the Tour Championship in 2019 and 2020, fifth place in 2021, and fourth place last year.
Other notable finishes include Wyndham Clark of the United States finishing in third place with a score of 16-under-par, last season’s FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland securing fourth place with 14-under-par, and Patrick Cantlay of the United States claiming fifth place with a score of 13-under-par.
Scotty Scheffler of the United States, who held the top position in the FedEx Cup rankings until the second leg of the playoffs, finished in a tie for sixth place with a score of 11-under-par after failing to retain his lead in the final game.
Representing South Korea, golfers Joo-hyung Kim and Si-woo Kim concluded the tournament tied for 20th place with a final score of 6-under-par. Seong-jae Lim finished in 24th place with a score of 3-under-par.
Joo-hyung Kim was ranked 16th in the FedEx Cup standings leading up to the second leg of the playoffs, while Seong-jae Lim held 17th place, and Si-woo Kim held 20th place. Each of these golfers started the tournament at 2-under-par.
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(Photo = AP, Yonhap News)
▲ Hoblan Game
Viktor Hovlan (Norway) won the Tour Championship, the final match of the US Professional Golf PGA Tour season, and became the FedEx Cup champion for the 2022-2023 season.
Hovlan shot a 7-under-par 63 with 7 birdies without a bogey in the final 4 rounds of the Tour Championship held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, USA today (28th) (Korea time).
Hoblan, who recorded a final total of 27 under par, beat second place Zander Chopley (USA) by 5 strokes and won the championship, becoming the protagonist of a bonus of 18 million dollars (about 23.85 billion won) and given to FedEx the season Champion playoff cup.
The Tour Championship is the final event of the season where only 30 FedExCup points based on the season’s performance are converted into points, and the winner of this tournament becomes the season’s FedExCup Champion.
In order to match the winner of the tournament with the FedEx Cup champion, a ‘bonus number of strokes’ is applied depending on the position up to the BMW Championship, so the number of strokes that players start the competition with is different.
First place in the FedEx Cup standings starts the first round at 10 under par, and second place starts at 8 under par.
Hovlan was runner-up in the FedEx Cup to the BMW Championship, starting this tournament at 8 under par and breaking 19 strokes over four days.
After tying for the lead in rounds 1 and 2, he dropped 4 strokes in round 3 to become the sole leader, 6 strokes ahead of second place Shopley, and retained it on the final day.
Born in September 1997 and turning 26 next month, Hovlan made his PGA Tour debut in the 2019-2020 season and became a playoff champion for the first time in his fourth year.
Hoblan, who became the first Norwegian ever to win a PGA Tour event at the 2020 Puerto Rico Open, also made a name for himself as Norway’s first PGA Tour FedEx Cup champion.
Hoblan won the PGA Tour for the second consecutive week following the BMW Championship in the second round of the playoffs last week, recording his sixth career victory.
He has three wins this year alone, including the Memorial Tournament in June.
In the final round, which was delayed by 1 hour and 50 minutes due to bad weather, Hoblan dropped a birdie putt close to 5m on hole 1 (par 4), followed by consecutive birdies on holes 4 to 6.
Shopley, who played together, pulled out 5 birdies in the first half, resulting in a 5 stroke gap.
In the second half, although Hoblan was unable to reduce the number of strokes, Shopley birdied holes 11 and 12, reducing the gap to three strokes, making the match even more intense.
Hoblan was in danger with a par putt of more than 7m at hole 14 (par 4), but Shopley finished with a par first and then clenched his fists while defending the par in a demanding situation.
In the next hole (par 3), Shopley had a birdie opportunity from around 4.5m, which was shorter than Hoblan, but the putt was short and stopped in the par, and the victory tilted towards Hoblan.
Even on the 16th hole (par 4), Shopley’s birdie putt was weak, while Hoblan added a birdie and hit a wedge.
Hoblan celebrated himself perfectly with birdies on both holes 17 (par 4) and 18 (par 5).
Shopley was one step short of becoming champion, but showed a strong side in this competition following second place in this competition in 2019 and 2020, a tie for fifth place in 2021, and fourth place last year.
On this day, Shopley broke 8 strokes without a bogey.
Wyndham Clark (USA) was 3rd (16 under par), last season’s FedEx Cup champion, Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) was 4th (14 under par), and Patrick Cantlay (USA) was 5th (13 under par).
Scotty Scheffler (USA), who was number 1 in the FedEx Cup rankings until the second leg of the playoffs, was tied for 6th place (11 under par) after failing to retain first place in the final game following last term.
Kim Joo-hyung and Kim Si-woo recorded a final total of 6 under par and tied for 20th place, while Lim Seong-jae finished in 24th place (3 under par).
Joo-hyung Kim was 16th in the FedEx Cup until the second leg of the playoffs, Seong-jae Lim was 17th, and Si-woo Kim was 20th, starting this tournament at 2 under par each.
(Photo = AP, Yonhap News)
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