Emotions run hot, but Hovland remained cool to secure the win at the 2025 Valspar Championship

Mar 23/2025 - VIKTOR HOVLAND is back in the winner’s circle, and what a weekend of emotions it was at the 2025 Valspar Championship! After three straight missed cuts, HOVLAND stormed back with a clutch final-round 67, sinking three birdies in his last five holes to edge out JUSTIN THOMAS by a single stroke.

The “Snake Pit” was no match for him—birdies at 16 and 17 flipped the script, while THOMAS stumbled down the stretch with two bogeys in his final three holes. Just like that, HOVLAND was holding his seventh PGA Tour trophy.

But here’s the wild part—he still doesn’t love his swing! HOVLAND admitted he hit some “disgusting shots” and credited a recent reunion with his swing coach for helping him rediscover a key feel. Even when he’s not firing on all cylinders, he finds a way to win.

It was an emotional week all around as golfers were not hiding their frustrations on the weekend — PATTON KIZZIRE punted his putter and bending it in the process, SAHITH THEEGALA chucked a club into the water, where a fan offered to swim in and get it for him, and ADAM HADWIN even took out a sprinkler head in a frustration club slam to the ground. Through all that, HOVLAND kept his cool, proving once again that precision and resilience can beat power.

His first win since the 2023 Tour Championship and missing back to back to back cuts? Check. Confidence heading into the season? Double check. HOVLAND might just be back!

5 FUN GOLFER FACTS ABOUT THE 2025 VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

• This was HOVLAND'S 7th career PGA Tour title in his 120th start at the age of 27 years, 6 months and 5 days

• HOVLAND became the first winner from Norway to hoist the Valspar Trophy

• The weekend saw 2 hole-in-ones, both in the "Snake Pit" on the 17th - first was STEVEN FISK who did it in the 2nd round, followed by SAM RYDER who drained it in the 3rd round

• Though he struggled at the end, JUSTIN THOMAS had a good little 4 hole run going in his 3rd round; from holes 11 - 14 he went Eagle-Birdie-Birdie-Birdie, going -5 in that stretch

• Heading into the final round,  there was 3 golfers all tied for the lead - marking the first time this season that there wasn't a single leader heading into the last day

4 FUN GOLFER FACTS ABOUT VIKTOR HOVLAND

• HOVLAND actually speaks 3 languages - his native Norwegian, English and even Spanish

• HOVLAND is known to be a bit of a metal head - enjoying bands such as Metallica, Tool and System of a Down

• After visiting the USA, HOVLAND'S father Harald, who brough a set of clubs back with him, introduced HOVLAND to the sport at the age of 11

• HOVLAND became the first Norwegian born player to ever compete in THE MASTERS when he made his Augusta debut in 2019