Norwegian Viktor Hovland Secures $18M FedEx Cup Triumph, Emerges as Third-Youngest Victor
Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland showcased his skills and determination as he clinched the prestigious Tour Championship title on Sunday. Battling against a late charge from American Xander Schauffele, Hovland maintained his composure to finish at an impressive 27 under par at Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club. Not only did this victory establish Hovland as the third-youngest champion in the history of the FedEx Cup, but it also earned him a massive $18 million in prize money.
Reflecting on his remarkable achievement, Hovland expressed his disbelief at standing there as the winner. Remarkably, he had been playing his best golf over the past two weeks, and the timing of his success couldn’t have been better. Addressing the CBS broadcast following the conclusion of the PGA Tour finale, Hovland shared his gratitude to the spectators for their support.
Heading into the final round with a six-stroke lead, Hovland equaled the largest 54-hole lead in the FedEx Cup starting strokes era after shooting a commendable 4-under 66 in the third round on Saturday. However, a weather delay lasting nearly two hours threatened to disrupt his momentum.
Once play resumed at East Lake, Schauffele launched a remarkable comeback by birdieing seven of his first 12 holes, effectively narrowing Hovland’s lead to just three strokes. Nevertheless, Hovland demonstrated his resolve by birdieing four of his first six holes. Although he followed these with nine consecutive pars, he eventually regained his five-stroke advantage with impressive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. The victory was sealed with a final birdie on the 18th hole.
While Schauffele finished as the runner-up with a score of 22 under par, Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open champion, secured third place at 16 under par.
Hovland entered the Tour Championship as the No. 2 seed after emerging victorious at the BMW Championship the week before. His exceptional performance in these two events places him in an elite league alongside Tiger Woods, Billy Horschel, and Patrick Cantlay as the only golfers who have triumphed in both the BMW Championship and the FedEx Cup during the same season.
The tournament boasted an astounding $75 million prize pool, with the winner, Hovland, taking home a remarkable $18 million. Meanwhile, the second and third-place finishers received $6.5 million and $5 million, respectively. It is worth noting that even the golfer finishing in 10th place netted a handsome $1 million. Importantly, with the absence of a cut this weekend, all 30 players enjoyed a share of the prize money, with the 30th-placed golfer expected to receive $500,000.
The FedExCup Playoffs commenced with 70 players, all of whom had accumulated points throughout the PGA Tour season. The playoffs began with the 70-player FedEx St. Jude Championship held at the TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, followed by the 50-player BMW Championship at the Olympia Fields Country Club outside of Chicago. Notably, quadruple points were awarded to the winner of these two tournaments.
Viktor Hovland’s triumph represents a remarkable feat and cements his position as one of the rising stars in golf. With his exemplary performance at the Tour Championship, Hovland joins an esteemed group of elite golfers and adds yet another chapter to his burgeoning career.
