The FedEx Cup playoffs have featured some incredible moments since their inception in 2007, and Viktor Hovland added his name to that lore.
Hovland ripped through the back nine of Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club to post a final-round, 9–under-par 61 and win the BMW Championship on Sunday, August 20.
The Norwegian holed seven birdies on the back nine to come home in 7–under 28. His career-low round on the PGA Tour also broke the course record of 62 that Max Homa and Sam Burns shot earlier in the week.
Hovland started the day three strokes behind co-leaders Scottie Scheffler and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, then catapulted past them to finish at 17–under 263 for the week.
“Definitely has to be the best round I’ve ever played,” Hovland said. “Given the circumstances, playoff event at this golf course, and finish the way that I did the last nine holes was pretty special.”
Though the final round began as a duel between Scheffler and Fitzpatrick, the duo shot matching rounds of 66 to tie for second at 15 under.
The good news for Scheffler: He will begin next week’s Tour Championship with a two-shot advantage after finishing the week No. 1 in the FedEx Cup points standings. Hovland is projected to jump from No. 7 to No. 2. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy – who also shot 66 on Sunday and finished fourth at 12 under – will start No. 3 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Hovland, 25, had three birdies and a single bogey on the front nine and was still far behind Scheffler and Fitzpatrick before his remarkable finish. His irons and wedges were dialed in, leaving only one of his seven successful birdie putts on the back nine to be longer than 10 feet; he had a 3-footer at No. 10, less than 5 feet at No. 12 and a tap-in at No. 14.
Hovland hit a 9-iron into the 17th green and tied Scheffler at 16 under with the ensuing 9-footer for birdie. At the par-4 18th hole, Hovland nearly hit the flagstick with his pitching-wedge approach and sank a 6 1/2-foot putt to head to the clubhouse with sole possession of the lead.
Scheffler then three-putted for bogey at the par-4 17th to make it a two-shot margin with time running out.
“I was just kind of trying to stay in my own little world,” Scheffler said. “I know (Hovland) was getting going. I didn’t know what Viktor started at, but I knew he was playing really well.
“I was just trying to do my best to keep pushing forward. I didn’t birdie 15, and then missed a birdie putt on 16 and bogeyed 17, which kind of – 17 obviously kind of took me out of it.”
Hovland didn’t think about his chances to win until birdieing the 15th hole.
“I just kind of kept on focusing shot for shot and got closer to Fitzy and Scottie and just kept pouring it on, and now we’re here,” Hovland said.
It was Hovland’s second victory of the season, the other coming at the Memorial Tournament, a designated event. Both victories earned Hovland a $3.6 million winner’s check.
“My short game has gotten a lot better, and I think I’ve driven it the best I’ve ever driven it in any other season,” Hovland said. “Then my iron game has been, I would say, just OK for me compared to the other couple years I would say, but it’s just putting all of that together, and then being clutch at the right times at Memorial and obviously this week and having a chance to contend in those major championships, I think I’ve taken a big step this year compared to other years.”
Fitzpatrick polished off a consistent week (66–67–66–66) with six birdies and two bogeys in his final round. Though he came up shy of the win, his performance vaulted him from No. 40 to No. 10 in the FedEx Cup standings, clinching himself a tee time at the Tour Championship.
“Can’t do anything about 61,” Fitzpatrick said. “But for me, just really pleased again that I played really well final round in contention with World No. 1, and I didn’t lose it. Someone else came from behind and won it.”
Homa (68 on Sunday) and Open champion Brian Harman (69) tied for fifth at 11 under. Sungjae Im of South Korea (66) was seventh at 10 under.
