OLYMPIA FIELDS, USA: On the back nine at Olympia Fields, Viktor Hovland hit every shot exactly how he wanted. Rory McIlroy held his card and kept writing “3” in almost every field.
Hovland produced the best round of his career at the right time on Sunday, turning a two-man race into a one-man show by breaking the course record with a 9-under 61, edging out Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick to win the BMW. Championship.
The previous mark of 62 was set twice this week on the rain-softened North Course by Sam Burns and Max Homa on the previous two days. Hovland birdied all but two holes when doing the back nine. ” I just wanted to try to play well and keep making birdies.”
What was happening behind him was nothing special. Scheffler hit enough putts to lead by two at one point but missed on two holes that could have made the difference a 6-footer for birdie on par-3 16th hole to stay with the winner, then a 20-foot miss on three-putt 17th hole resulting in a bogey.
Fitzpatrick had an eight-hole stretch midway through the round to go 1 over, and then two birdies late at least kept him in the game. He and Scheffler each closed with a 66, tied for second, and left Chicago feeling helpless.
“Can’t do anything with 61. I saw Viktor — I called him a little (expletive),” Fitzpatrick said with a smile. “But it’s really pleasing for me again that I played really well in the last round against the world number one and didn’t lose him.” Someone else came from behind and won it.”
Scheffler was awestruck on the soft turf added with the low scores. He was only left with applauding Hovland and congratulating him on his victory.
“I’m just a little frustrated. I guess that’s the way to describe it,” Scheffler said. “Viktor came out and really beat me today and played a fantastic round. I can hold my head high. I did my best out there today and fought hard. In the end, I missed a few shots.”
This is Hovland’s second win this year.
