PGA Tour : Valspar Championship Results
We needed to see who would emerge from the 25 players who had a shot at this 2025 version of the Valspar Championship.
Viktor Hovland had four birdies and two bogeys in his final round
As it turned out Viktor Hovland edged Justin Thomas who crucially after a weekend charge which included 8 birdies on Sunday had him looking the odds on favourite, made bogeys on two of his last three holes, while Hovland finally found some of his form with 4 birdies in 7 holes on his back nine, leaving him with a 2 shot lead heading down the 72nd, enough for his first win since winning back to back events including the Tour Championship and the Fed Ex Cup in 2023.
His numbers 70 67 69 67 -11 worth $1,566,000 left him with this to say: " when I came here I never thought I would win, I haven't been sure where my shots were going, it is hard to cope with that feeling. However it was nice to see some irons going where I was aiming, and to see some putts fall in"
He has had 5 different coaches in the last 2 years, hard to imagine for such an accomplished player, but a reminder of the old Scottish adage '' the toughest golf course is the six inches between your ears !"
His long time caddy Shay Knight gave some insight into the complexities of his boss. " He is really hard on himself, but as soon as he finds a little swing cue thought he takes that on board, and it happens really fast. I knew something good was going to happen this week with that swing thought.
He's a confidence player, and when he has it he can beat anyone, and that's what he's done this week"
Thomas had two wild drives at the vaunted Snake Pit, 16 and 18 to rue despite a brilliant 65 66 weekend good for 2nd at -10, then an in form Jacob Bridgeman -9 filled out the frame 3rd.
Canadians
Corey Conners T8 71 69 69 69 -6 his 3rd top 10 in a row in Florida.
Mac Hughes T36 75 69 69 70 -1 who improved his play after that opening 75.
Last word
Hovland had this to say which to me is a key " I don't care about other things outside golf. it consumes me"
How often have we heard that from single guys who have been pursuing nothing but golf since they were 16. Consumed, they over analyze, lose all perspective on actual life's daily milieu.
Recently veteran pro, JP Poston and his wife had their first child, a daughter called Scottie, and he took some time off and when he returned he celebrated when he won the 2024 Shriners Children's Hospital Open.
After pursuing the game from high school, through college, before getting his card in 2017 he finally found out golf was NOT the most important thing in life at all. Baby Scottie doesn't even know what it is. His priorities in life changed to what we all accept to be the norm.
He is now a happy family man first, and is enjoying his time and status in golf the way he never had.
Victor has yet to learn that, and when he does he'll wonder why he ever spent all that time agonizing over the game, that is just a game.
Bryan Angus
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