Golf is a weird game. It wasn’t so long ago, roughly 18 months, that Viktor Hovland was at the pinnacle of the golf world.
He was coming off a FedEx Cup win, ranked No. 3 in the world and carded an impressive 3-1-1 Ryder Cup performance at Marco Simone. He had also entered the “best in the world” debate. He was feared, admired and on everyone’s mind.
In 2024, the greatness stalled. Some coaching swaps, swing changes and an overall downturn in results dropped him to No. 19 in the world, where he started this week at the 2025 Valspar Championship.
There hadn’t been any signs of improvement early this season. Hovland entered the Valspar after missing three consecutive cuts. But again, golf is a weird game,m and Hovland found something this week to beat Justin Thomas by one shot and claim his seventh-career PGA Tour title.
His stubborn performance while winning at the insanely challenging Copperhead course reminded us all that Vik is still here, and all he needed was to get into the fight once again. Winning at the Tour level is damn near impossible, and for someone like Hovland, perhaps tasting victory in tough conditions was all he needed to get back to where we all expect him to be.
His bag is an interesting one. Most of it is from two-to-three years ago, and as I learned in watching him work with Ping Tour rep Kenton Oates, Hovland is specific about what lands in the bag. If something is working, it stays until it breaks or something new comes along, which is miles better. Hovland is a “hard switcher,” and I love him for it.
Key Stats:
SG Total: 13.619 (Ranked: 1)
SG Putting: 7.353 (2)
SG Approach To Green: 5.886 (6)
Here are the clubs Hovland used to win the 2025 Valspar:
Driver: Ping G425 LST 9 at 8.5° (Flat Standard, 14g CG shifter in neutral setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder TR 661-TX (45.75 EOG, tipped 1″, D5+)
ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore | Ping
3-Wood: TaylorMade SIM (Small Head) at 16.5@17
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7X (Tipped 1.5) 43.25 inches EOG, D3.5
Utility: Titleist U505 (3)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI HY 85X (39 EOG)
ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore | Titleist
Irons: (4-PW) Ping I210 (.25 short IE 37.75 5-iron)
ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore | Ping
Shafts: KBS Tour-V 120-X (D2)
Lofts: 23, 26.5, 30, 33.5, 37.5, 41.5, 45.5
Lie: 1.5 Flat
Wedges: Ping S159 (50/12S, 56/12S@55) Glide 2.0 (60/06TS)
Shafts: DG Tour Issue S400, D3+(50/55), D4 (60)
Putter: Ping PLD DS72 Vik Proto (36 Inches, 70 lie, 3 loft)
Grip: WINN 15″
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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