Hovland U.S. Open: Winning Despite Strategy Shift
- — viktor Hovland finds himself in contention at the U.S.
- In 2023, Hovland's strategy at oak Hill was clear: play it safe, aim for the centre of the greens, and let the putter do the work.
- He acknowledges his struggles and speaks with a newfound candor.
Viktor Hovland is redefining his game at the U.S. Open,showcasing a new resilience after swing changes and seeking his first major title. HeS battling the challenging Oakmont course with a markedly different approach than in years past. Adjustments to his swing, described by him as a learning curve, are paying off. Hovland’s ability to score, even without a perfect swing, highlights his evolving primarykeyword and improved secondarykeyword, demonstrating the maturity he’s gained. Read how his new strategies are unfolding, all reported by News directory 3. Discover what’s next for Hovland as he strives for victory.
Hovland Seeks Major Win at U.S. Open After Swing Changes
Updated June 14, 2025
OAKMONT, Pa. — viktor Hovland finds himself in contention at the U.S. Open, just two years after a near-miss at the PGA Championship. This time, however, Hovland arrives at the final round a changed player, battling not only the challenging Oakmont course but also his own evolving game.
In 2023, Hovland’s strategy at oak Hill was clear: play it safe, aim for the centre of the greens, and let the putter do the work. He played flawlessly for much of the tournament, but ultimately fell short, losing to Brooks Koepka. The aftermath saw Hovland grappling with his swing, leading to changes in coaches and equipment. He even described himself as “certified nuts” during the process.
At Oakmont, Hovland’s approach is markedly different. He acknowledges his struggles and speaks with a newfound candor. Despite a rocky start on Saturday, including an opening tee shot that went out of bounds, Hovland managed to stay in the hunt. A miraculous birdie save on the 17th highlighted his resilience.
Hovland credits his ability to score even when his swing isn’t perfect to his early experiences in golf. “I feel like the way that I became good at golf was having somthing suboptimal that I had to play with,” Hovland said. He explained that learning to manage a slice as a kid taught him how to score under less-than-ideal conditions.
Now,Hovland is focused on getting the ball in the hole,even if it means deviating from a perfect swing. He believes he is better equipped to win a major now, citing his increased maturity and experience.
“Sure, we would all like to win, that’s why we practice so hard,” he said. “But there’s also like a deep passion in me that I want to hit the shots. I want to stand up on the tee and hit the shots that I’m envisioning. When the ball’s not doing that, it bothers me.”
what’s next
As Hovland prepares for the final round,he aims to refine his driver and capitalize on his improved game management. He spent Saturday evening on the driving range, searching for answers and fine-tuning his swing, determined to seize the opportunity at Oakmont.