Hovland Opens Six-Stroke Lead at 2023 Tour Championship
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What was expected to be a closely contested tournament quickly turned into a blowout on Saturday at the 2023 Tour Championship. Viktor Hovland surged ahead of the competition to claim the solo lead, finishing the day with an impressive six-shot advantage. With his sights set on his second consecutive victory, first Tour Championship title, and first FedEx Cup, Hovland (-20) looks unstoppable heading into the final round.
Hovland shot a solid 66 on Saturday, leaving Xander Schauffele (-14) six strokes behind him and Collin Morikawa (-13) seven strokes back. Despite challenging conditions at the East Lake Golf Club, Hovland’s consistent ball-striking carried him through the day. While his competitors struggled to maintain their pace, Hovland remained steady on the back nine, firmly establishing himself as the frontrunner for the colossal $18 million prize.
If Hovland succeeds in winning the BMW Championship and Tour Championship consecutively, he will take home a staggering $21.6 million in just two weeks. This feat has only been accomplished by three other golfers in the history of the sport.
Let’s delve into Hovland’s third-round performance, his path to victory, and the immense challenge his peers face in preventing him from securing his second consecutive trophy.
Leader
1. Viktor Hovland (-20): Despite not playing his best golf throughout the tournament, Hovland’s starting position of 8 under on the leaderboard has provided him with a significant advantage. His strong ball-striking skills, particularly off the tee and from tee to green, have allowed him to minimize mistakes and avoid bogeys. Hovland has only recorded three bogeys in the first three rounds, showcasing his exceptional ability to capitalize on his ball-striking prowess.
Contenders
2. Xander Schauffele (-14)
3. Collin Morikawa (-13)
4. Keegan Bradley (-12)
5. Jon Rahm (-11)
The question arises: Are there truly any other contenders? Hovland’s comfortable lead leaves Schauffele as the sole player with a remote chance of catching up. Morikawa’s chances dwindled after struggling on Saturday, failing to maintain his remarkable 15-under pace from the previous rounds.
The reality is that unless Hovland scores above par on Sunday, victory seems highly unlikely for any of his competitors. Even if Hovland performs modestly, shooting even par or 1 over, he still remains the favorite to win the tournament.
At stake on Sunday
If Hovland successfully maintains his lead on Sunday, he will have earned a remarkable $21.6 million in just eight days. To put this figure into perspective, it surpasses the annual salary of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, as well as the total career earnings of David Duval.
The following are the prize amounts for the top 10 finishers (the remaining 20 players will receive at least $500,000):
1st: $18,000,000
2nd: $6,500,000
3rd: $5,000,000
4th: $4,000,000
5th: $3,000,000
6th: $2,500,000
7th: $2,000,000
8th: $1,500,000
9th: $1,250,000
10th: $1,000,000
Struggling Scheffler
Despite being the world’s top-ranked player, Scottie Scheffler appeared exhausted and out of form on Saturday. He failed to make a single birdie and ranked near the bottom in putting, approach play, tee to green play, and overall performance. His 3-over score was only one stroke better than the worst round of the day.
Scheffler’s fatigue is evident, as he expressed his weariness due to the energy exerted while contending. Playing in multiple consecutive playoff events takes a toll, both physically and mentally. Although Scheffler has showcased remarkable ball-striking abilities throughout the season, his struggles with the putter prevented him from securing victories.
With a nine-shot deficit to Hovland, it is unlikely that Scheffler can catch up and challenge for the title. His best hope may be to secure second place in the tournament.
As the Tour Championship heads into its final round, all eyes are on Viktor Hovland as he looks to cement his dominance and claim his well-deserved victory.