Viktor Hovland looked like one of the next great stars of the sport when the 2023 PGA Tour season concluded. He had won three tournaments, including the Tour Championship, and finished the year at No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings – just behind Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm.

Hovland couldn’t resist the allure of tinkering with his swing coming into 2024, but those changes had the opposite of their intended effect. The 27-year-old has tumbled to 19th in the world over the last year.

In that time, Hovland flashed in the occasional tournament, notably a third-place finish at last year’s PGA Championship, but consistency remains elusive.

As he approaches the 2025 Valspar Championship, having missed three cuts across five events, Hovland made a big move up the leaderboard at Innisbrook, shooting a 4-under 67 to tie for second, presenting his chance at victory.

After the round, Hovland opened up about his struggles:

“It sucks. You have an ability that you can almost take for granted. You just wake up, stand over the ball, and expect it to go in a particular direction. When it doesn’t, it becomes frustrating.”

Hovland highlighted that dealing with these challenges is crucial for growth as a player.

“I am hard on myself, yeah. But that’s also why I’m good. If I wasn’t hard on myself, I probably wouldn’t be out here.”

Despite the difficulties, Hovland’s reflections provide a relatable perspective for amateur golfers navigating similar feelings on the course.