Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, currently ranked World No. 12, continues to refine his golf game as he aims to overtake Scottie Scheffler, particularly before the upcoming major, The Open Championship in 2025. Throughout this season, Hovland has made multiple changes, including switching swing coaches from Denny Lucas to Grant Waite, driven by his desire to achieve either perfection or a new challenge.
At the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open, Hovland started strong with a 66 in the opening round and followed with a 72 in the second, highlighting a solid performance in this critical stretch of his season. His consistent form reflects a campaign where he has posted six top-25 finishes in thirteen starts, signaling that while his play is steadily improving, the battle to claim the World No. 1 position remains intense.
Current Strengths and Areas Needing Improvement in Hovland’s Game
Hovland has emphasized the need to stabilize fundamental aspects of his play. In a recent interview with Golfweek, he stated,
“I’m just trying to get my ball striking back to normal. That’s the pillar of my game and if I can do that and improve my chipping, I can achieve great things.”
—Viktor Hovland, Professional Golfer
His performance metrics from the PGA Tour reveal significant strengths in approach shots, ranking fourth in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green. However, weaknesses persist around the putting green; he ranks 128th in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green and 134th in Strokes Gained: Putting. These statistics showcase the chipping and putting areas where Hovland must improve to challenge top rivals like Scheffler effectively.
The Impact of Hovland’s Perfectionism on His Career Progression
Hovland’s quest for perfection appears to be both a motivating force and a potential obstacle. After his victory at the 2025 Valspar Championship – his first win in 18 months – he openly addressed how the pursuit of improvement is often misunderstood. He shared,
“I find it kind of weird that we’re professional athletes and the people that are wanting to improve are somewhat looked at, ‘Oh, he’s a perfectionist, he’s out on the perimeter searching too much.’”
—Viktor Hovland, Professional Golfer
He further expressed his conviction:
“If you’re not going to try to get better, what are you doing?”
—Viktor Hovland, Professional Golfer
Such statements reveal Hovland’s passion for constant refinement but raise questions about the balance between persistent tinkering and the stability required for excellence at the highest level. Comparisons to Scottie Scheffler highlight contrasting approaches to perfection in golf.
Golf Experts Weigh in on Hovland’s Approach Versus Scheffler’s Stability
Golf analysts and fellow professionals have observed how Hovland’s drive for perfection may have slowed his progression. PGA Tour players Brendon De Jonge and Johnson Wagner offered insights in March on this topic, with Wagner commenting,
“I think it’s the hunt for perfection that’s slowed him down. I think if he had just been content with who he was as a player, get better around the greens, then he would be a force right now.”
—Johnson Wagner, PGA Tour Golfer
During this period, Hovland experimented with adding draw shots to his swing to gain greater versatility, but this adjustment caused unpredictable hooks and diminished his natural feel. The loss of confidence affected his instinctive play, contrasting with Scheffler’s more measured method. Where Hovland continually seeks to fix elements of his game, Scheffler focuses on maintaining a stable approach without chasing an ideal swing aggressively.
Hovland’s swing coach, Shay Knight, recognized his player’s intense self-criticism and quick adoption of new cues, saying,
“He’s really hard on himself. But as soon as he finds some little swing cue or thought, he tends to take it on board, and it happens really fast.”
—Shay Knight, Swing Coach
This dynamic underscores the challenge Hovland faces in balancing self-improvement with maintaining his core strengths, a key factor in the Scottie Scheffler overtake plan he pursues.
Contextualizing Hovland’s Season and the Road Ahead to The Open Championship
While Hovland’s season features commendable highlights, including his recent Valspar Championship win, the path to surpassing Scheffler at the pinnacle of golf rankings remains complex. Scheffler, who has demonstrated steadiness since his 2023 Genesis Invitational victory, embodies consistency, which contrasts with Hovland’s continual adjustments. This contrast plays a significant role as the golfing world anticipates The Open Championship, where rankings and reputations could dramatically shift.
By focusing on regaining his ball striking and improving short game aspects, Hovland aims to narrow the gap. His love for experimenting, while sometimes risky, shows a commitment to growth. The battle between his perfectionism and the necessity for steady performance provides a gripping narrative as the major approaches.
Importance of the World No. 1 Position and the Competitive Landscape
The race for the top spot in golf is not simply about rankings; it reflects validation and psychological advantage among the world’s best players. Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, who ascended to No. 1 after winning the 2023 Genesis Invitational, acknowledged the satisfaction it brings amid fierce competition:
“There’s a lot of satisfaction that comes to it when you get to be No. 1 when the other players have been playing great golf as well.”
—Jon Rahm, Professional Golfer
This context illustrates the stakes for Hovland and his peers. While Rahm’s journey shows that reaching No. 1 amid strong competition is deeply rewarding, Hovland’s unique approach combining continuous tinkering and striving for perfection shapes his own challenge and potential triumphs.
Summary of Hovland’s Challenge to Surpass Scottie Scheffler
Viktor Hovland’s ambition to rise to World No. 1 behind the Scottie Scheffler overtake plan is rooted in his commitment to refining his game despite setbacks. His disruptions in swing and gameplay have created periods of inconsistency, but also opportunities for self-discovery and adjustment. Success at The Open Championship and beyond will depend on how effectively he balances the demands of perfection with dependable play, especially around the greens.
As the season progresses, the golfing community will watch closely to see whether Hovland’s strategy and perseverance will lead him to outpace Scheffler and claim the sport’s highest honors.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What was Scottie Scheffler upset about?
A. Scheffler showed his frustration with his performance by hitting his club on the ground after a shot at the 14th hole. He thinks that Oakmont is not a course where a lot of planning helps. Instead, he believes you need to stay focused on the moment and keep hitting your shots.
Q. What did Scottie Scheffler do illegally?
A. The top-ranked golfer tried to reach Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, at about 6 a.m. Police said he unlawfully avoided an accident scene where someone was fatally hit by a car.
Q. What does Tiger Woods think of Scottie Scheffler?
A. One key voice in the clip was Tiger Woods. He shared strong praise and valuable insights about why Scheffler stands out. Woods mentioned that they both view shots into greens in a similar way. They focus on missing the ball in the right spots, even if it doesn’t always look perfect. He emphasized that the focus is on the long-term strategy, not just immediate results.