The 2019 Masters will forever be etched into fans’ memories with the image of Tiger Woods dressed in Sunday red lifting his putter into the air in celebration of his fifth Green Jacket.
But what often gets overlooked amid the great’s emotional comeback is the 21-year-old Norwegian who finished Low Amateur.
In 2019, Viktor Hovland sat alongside the champion in Butler Cabin after winning the Silver Medal for Low Amateur.
Viktor Hovland won the Silver Cup for Low Amateur at the 2019 Masters tournament
The young Norwegian sat alongside 2019 champions Tiger Woods (centre) in Butler Cabin
In the three years since, he has catapulted himself onto golf’s global stage, peaking at World No 3, currently sitting at No 4 with the chance to clinch the coveted No 1 spot.
In the past ten years, there have been eight new winners of the tournament with Bubba Watson winning twice within three years and Tiger Woods of course being a serial winner.
As Hovland prepares to tee off in his third Masters – his second since turning professional – could he be the latest new name to slip into a Green Jacket?
Seven winners of the silver medal for low amateur have gone on to win a Green Jacket: Cary Middlecoff (1946), Jack Nicklaus (1960), Ben Crenshaw (1972-73), Phil Mickelson (1991), Tiger Woods (1995), Sergio Garcia (1999) and Hideki Matsuyama (2011).
And with multiple Tour wins already under his belt, a major is surely on the horizon for Hovland.
At the age of 24, Hovland has three PGA Tour and two DP World Tour wins, as well as a victory at the Hero World Challenge, hosted by none other than Woods himself, last December.
At the end of November 2020, he only had one professional win to his name but in the space of 17 months he has racked them up with five coming in the last 12 months.
The 24-year-old won the Hero World Challenge hosted by Woods last December
Hovland already has three PGA Tour and two DP World Tour wins to his name
The results have seen him work his way up the ranks and his win on the DP World Tour in Dubai, following a playoff with veteran Richard Bland, saw him hit the No 3 spot.
Hovland has even had the chance to clinch World No 1 and could have dethroned Jon Rahm before Scottie Scheffler’s victory at the WGC-Dell Technology Match Play helped the American leapfrog Collin Morrikawa and Rahm to the title and bump Hovland back down to No 4.
But the young talent can still make the jump as he heads to Augusta in a six-man hunt for the No 1 spot.
Scheffler can naturally retain his place, Rahm can reclaim it and Morikawa, Hovland, Patrick Cantlay and Cam Smith all have the chance to become new World No 1s.
Hovland will reportedly need a solo third finish or better at Augusta this week to leap from fourth to first in the world.
He was also the first Norwegian to represent Europe at the Ryder Cup and, despite a mauling at the hands of the Americans last September, Hovland is one of the brightest sparks of the European next generation.
Hovland represented Europe at the 2021 Ryder Cup and is a foundation of the next generation
Hovland is clearly on a monumental upwards trajectory, so why not add him into the mix to win the Masters this week?
His path into the sport wasn’t the most traditional. He began playing golf aged 11 after his father, who worked in America, brought him clubs.
His dad taught him how to play, he regularly practised at an indoor driving range and relied on YouTube videos to develop his swing.
He caught the eye of coach Alan Bratton at Oklahoma State University in the US where he won the 2018 US Amateur and NCAA team titles.
He turned pro as the World’s No 1-ranked amateur after winning the low amateur honours at the Masters and US Open, becoming the first man since Matt Kuchar in 1998 to achieve that feat.
He turned pro as the World’s No 1-ranked amateur after winning the low amateur honours at the Masters and US Open (pictured at the 2019 US Open)
Now with a beautiful tempo, he has become renowned for crisp iron play that allows him to go pin seeking.
And even bagged an ace at the Players a few weeks ago, which lead to an amusing celebration with Kevin Streelman as he lifted his playing partner off the ground.
However, his knack for honing in on flags could be the very thing that lets him down at the Masters.
With his crisp iron play, Hovland made an ace on the eighth at the Players a few weeks ago
Augusta is a course that requires players to strategically plot their way around, hitting certain zones on greens rather than going for the pin.
And an errant shot – even just a few yards off target – relies on flawless short game to get back on track, which, and Viktor will be the first to admit it himself, isn’t his strongest suit.
While, he is ranked third on Tour for approach to green this season, he is way down at 201th around the green.
Hovland has been able to laugh off his short game weakness in the past and following his victory at Mayakoba in 2020 – where a few chunked chips on 11 resulted in a triple-bogey six which almost cost him the lead – he simply declared: ‘I just suck at chipping.’
But he has made seven cuts from the eight major events he has played, with the only one missed due to the fact he was forced to retire with a bizarre eye injury at the US Open last year.
However, he managed to find the amusing side to the situation, taking to social media after he withdrew to explain he got sand in his eye from a bunker shot in his warm up, which lingered like ‘the stubborn belly fat we all possess’ throughout his round.
And his humorous nature is a big pull for fans. It appears his winning game is not the only attraction for supporters but also his winning personality.
He has gained the reputation as ‘happy Hovland’ with the Norwegian constantly seen smiling on tour.
He appeared to be extremely well-liked by all his European Ryder Cup team-mates as captain Padraig Harrington revealed all of them wanted to play with the rookie.
He has gained the reputation as ‘happy Hovland’ and is constantly seen smiling on tour
And when Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter beat Tony Finau in what was probably his last appearance, Hovland stepped forward to hug him and shout, ‘The f*****g Postman!’
As well as humour, the youngster also appears to posses a humble side.
Golf writer Joy Chakravarty shared a story of how down to earth Hovland is as he travelled to the Hero World Challenge last year.
When waiting in the airport, Hovland was reportedly asked what he did and he responded: ‘I live in Oklahoma and play a bit of golf.’
Playing a ‘bit of golf’ seems to working out alright for Hovland in terms of paying the bills though.
He has earned a total of $15,555,939 (£11,894,771) so far across both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
As he was handed the check for his win at the Dubai Desert Classic in January, he comically declared: ‘Kerching!’
Hovland comically declared ‘Kerching!’ when he won the Dubai Desert Classic in January
But Hovland is not seeing dollar signs, only extra guacamole.
Ahead of the Players with a record purse on offer, Hovland was asked what difference his professional earnings have made in his life.
Hovland, a man of simple means, responded: ‘I didn’t have to count every single dollar that I spend on air travel and food. That was like a big thing.
‘Instead of not getting guac at Chipotle, I could get double meat and some extra guac and I don’t have to worry about it.’
He also stands out from his fellow pros due to his music taste. It’s been long-documented that Hovland is s a big fan of heavy metal.
Not too sure, how it would go down if he blared that over the peace and quiet of Augusta National though…
If the quirky, humorous and humble Norwegian can navigate his way around the greens this week he will be a fan favourite to slip on that Green Jacket and if he does, surely he will be saying a lot more than ‘kerching’.