Meet Viktor Hovland, the young professional golf sensation, returning to power through his new log cabin primary residence. As he prepares for the Master’s tournament, he has decided to go with the Ping PLD DS72. For one, Hovland sounds dead set on finding his lag-putting confidence again. In doing that, he is addressing what he’s termed the “noise” in his head, working on his mental game rather than his technical game.
When the announcement was made, Hovland had just been training hard for the Masters in Orlando, Florida. Now he’s learning on the job with new coach Grant Waite, who took over from Denny Lucas. This impressive coaching change goes to show Hovland’s dedication to refining his short game and working on his swing mechanics. He pointed out that he’s been completely transparent with the revisions, calling the process “reverse engineering.”
Because putting, he was told, was the key and Hovland was just as surely bent on proving otherwise. To do so, he tried out three different putter models, eventually settling on the Ping PLD DS72. He realized that the key to overcoming his recent struggles was not merely about equipment but rather honing his technique.
“I went back to the old gamer I’ve always had,” – Viktor Hovland
Chipping, pitching, and putting with faith in his flatstick will be key for Hovland as he makes his debut at Augusta. And he’s got a great track record at the Masters. In four of those five now, he’s passed the cut-line and even tied for seventh in 2023. He also had the highest round of his class, an 81, and a best round of 65.
Reflecting on his experiences at Augusta, Hovland stated, “For me, it’s definitely the short game. It seems like this whole place, the way it’s set up, it doesn’t allow you to get away with poor technique.” This observation highlights the need for strong short game performances at one of golf’s most hallowed grounds.
As Hovland prepares for this week’s tournament, he knows that it all comes down to one thing—to believe in himself. He thinks that the key to achieving success is regularly challenging and reevaluating the status quo.
“It’s just being honest. I know how good it could truly be. It sucks when you are there and not seeing progress. It can seem a little bit futile,” – Viktor Hovland
Hovland’s can-do spirit reflects his strong work ethic and desire to be the best in his profession. He can’t wait to test out his newfound confidence over the next two days at Augusta. His idealism about what’s possible going forward — that gets him excited.
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