Where could Viktor Hovland’s first major triumph come?
By NCG
Viktor Hovland has rapidly risen up the golf rankings in recent years. After breaking the top 10 in 2022, he is now the fourth-ranked player in the world.
The Norwegian is widely considered as one of the leading players on the planet by avid golf fans. At the age of 26, his achievements so far and his career trajectory have been nothing short of remarkable.
Viktor Hovland sets the target with the new clubhouse lead at -15 🇳🇴#BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/ZcofcOtX1x
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 17, 2023
Hovland has already captured 10 professional wins, and he has even won at the expense of making Scottie Scheffler the runner-up on three occasions. That rivalry with the world number one could be renewed in 2024 if Hovland’s rise continues. Surely the only question is at what event could his first major honour arrive?
Hovland’s upcoming major events
Before the turn of the year, Hovland will have the chance to secure major team success as he has again been called up to Team Europe for the Ryder Cup.
Hovland also made the squad in 2021, few players participated in two editions of the competition by the age of 26, this is again indicative of the Norwegian’s rapid rise early in his career. Europe will be underdogs this time around according to Ryder Cup betting, they are offered at 5/4 to win in Rome.
The rivalry with Scheffler could initially continue at the team event, as according to the golf odds the American is expected to lead his nation to success. The USA player is offered at 10/11 to win on European soil for the first time in three decades.
Winning at the Ryder Cup would represent a huge success for Hovland, and would likely be the peak of his career so far. However, winning a major event at the individual level will have the biggest impact on his long-term legacy within the golfing world.
In 2024, Hovland will challenge for the most prestigious prize out of the quartet of majors first. The Masters will take place in April. The PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open will follow suit, with roughly a month between each of the four events. But which could provide the most likely setting for a maiden major victory for a potential future great?
The PGA Championship
Hovland’s leading major championship finish of his entire career came in 2023 in the PGA Championship. The Norwegian finished tied second alongside Scheffler at the event and lost out by just two strokes to Brooks Koepka. In 2024, the venue may provide the perfect opportunity for one of the younger rapidly improving stars to go one better.
Koepka is well into his 30s and not likely to improve further, while Hovland and Scheffler have shown signs of continual rapid progression in the past several years.
Both lost out narrowly last year, but going into the PGA Championship of 2024 the two that sit higher in the world rankings should be expected to battle it out for a major victory.
Viktor Hovland is the 2023 #FedExCup champion!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 27, 2023
This win @TOURChamp is his third victory of the season 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GRuHFLzDqT
Past results between the pair would also suggest that Hovland could in fact come out on top. He has won at the American’s expense on many occasions – whenever the margins are tight between the pair, the Norwegian tends to excel.
The biggest competitor across all four events for Hovland will likely be Scheffler, which will of course provide him with a positive omen ahead of the 2024 majors.
The Masters could also offer hope for Hovland as he finished tied for seventh in 2023. The US Open has never provided a successful ground for the Norwegian, as he has never finished in the top 10 at the event. Hovland did manage a top-10 finish in The Open of 2022, and that could be another potential area for maiden success.
Hovland has the tools and the talent to win either of the majors next year. However, if his crowning moment is to arrive, then the PGA Championship will be the most likely venue. The Norwegian agonisingly missed out on the glory last year and will be desperate to make amends in 2024.
