Viktor Hovland cruises to success at the Tour Championship

• Norway’s Viktor Hovland has catapulted himself firmly into the world’s elite after a comfortable success at the Tour Championship
• Hovland collected $18 million ((£14.1 million) bonus for his victory whereas Xander Schauffele claimed the $6.5 million (£5.2 million) runner-up prize

Norway’s Viktor Hovland has catapulted himself firmly into the world’s elite after a comfortable success at the Tour Championship. Hovland hit a superb bogey-free seven-under-par 63 to win the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup title at East Lake in Atlanta.

The 25-year-old, who shot a closing 61 to win the BMW Championship last weekend, birdied the final three holes on Sunday to win by five strokes on 27 under. The victory brings delight to Luke Donald, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain.

Viktor Hovland in action on Sunday. Photo/ Golf Magazine.

Speaking after his victory at the Tour Championship, Viktor Hovland said, “It’s pretty surreal to be standing here right now. The gameplan before starting was middle of the green, make a lot of pars and make Xander get after it, which he did early so I had to change my gameplan a little bit.” 

Hovland collected $18 million ((£14.1 million) bonus for his victory on Sunday. Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele finished on 22 under to claim the $6.5 million (£5.2 million) runner-up prize from the $75 million (£59.5 million) bonus pot. US Open champion Wyndham Clark finished third on 16 under.

Europe now hopes of reclaiming the Ryder Cup in Rome following Hovland’s victory. Europe’s qualification process will be finalized after this week’s European Masters in Switzerland. Captain Luke Donald is expected to name his six captain’s picks today, Monday, 28 August.

Less than a month will pass before Hovland, Donald and the rest of the team land in Italy. The Ryder Cup will take place at the Marco Simone Golf Club near Rome from 29 September to 1 October.

How Viktor Hovland Won The Tour Championship 

Viktor Hovland started the week two shots behind world number one Scottie Scheffler on 10 under par. On Sunday, there was a near two-hour delay because of lightning and heavy rain.

Hovland and Schauffele had equally fast starts, both of them picking up four birdies in the opening six holes. Schauffele then holed further birdie putts on the eighth, eleventh and twelfth holes to reduce the deficit to three.

Hovland would miss his chances in the process but still made some crucial par putts. After hitting a poor chip, it looked like the Norwegian’s advantage may be reduced on the fourteenth. However, he bounced back by holing a 23-foot putt and save the par.

Viktor Hovland collected $18 million for taking FedEx Cup in Georgia. Photo/ Golfweek – USA Today.

With momentum now on his side, Hovland had his fifth birdie of the day on the sixteenth. This led to him ending a run of nine pars. The world number five, Viktor Hovland, added two more on the seventeenth and eighteenth to win the Tour Championship.

World number two Rory McIlroy closed with a five-under 65 to finish fourth on 14 under. He has been battling a back injury which he picked at the start of the week.