06/29/26 10:18:00
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06/29 10:15 CDT Viktor Hovland wins Travelers in Monday playoff when Scheffler
misses short birdie putt
Viktor Hovland wins Travelers in Monday playoff when Scheffler misses short
birdie putt
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) --- Viktor Hovland got all the validation he needed Monday
that his game was on track again, and a whole lot more.
He beat Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the Travelers Championship, had both
parents from Norway watch him win for the first time and even did the "row"
with the Norwegian soccer fans who cheered him all the way to the surprising
end.
Hovland capped off a gritty rally when he made a 7-foot birdie putt on the
first playoff hole and won the Travelers when Scheffler missed a 4-foot birdie
putt.
"Winning in the playoff against Scottie --- best player in the world --- that
was pretty satisfying," said Hovland, who won for the first time since the
Valspar Championship in March 2025.
The surprise was Scheffler going from a big advantage --- an 8-iron to 4 feet
on the 18th on the first playoff hole --- to missing a hard-sliding putt on the
high side that made Hovland a winner.
"Maybe I hit it a little firmer than I intended to," said Scheffler, whose putt
caught the left edge and rolled out some 7 feet by the hole. "It looked like it
got pretty far by the hole and I was playing it outside the hole, so I hit it
down my line, just maybe the speed was a touch off."
It was a big disappointment for Scheffler, who made Monday possible by making
an 8-foot par putt on the 72nd hole in near darkness to force the playoff.
He was first to hit from the 18th fairway and some 3,000 fans on the hillside
around the green erupted in cheers. Hovland responded, just like the
28-year-old Norwegian had done on the back nine Sunday when he rallied from a
two-shot deficit.
Hovland's birdie putt was snapping off to the right when it curled in the right
side and he let out a big fist pump.
"It's one of those putts that if I make mine, his gets significantly tougher,
and if I miss, he probably will make his," Hovland said. "Yeah, it was
definitely no gimmies there, so to put the pressure on him was awesome."
It was the first Monday finish on the PGA Tour since The Players Championship
in 2025, which involved a three-hole aggregate playoff won by Rory McIlroy.
This turned out to be one hole and 15 minutes, but it did not lack for drama,
or atmosphere.
There was lively banter for the playoff. A group of Norwegian fans, who had
been in Boston for the World Cup, wore their soccer jerseys and chanted,
"Hov-land!" as he approached his golf ball in the fairway. The Americans began
the "Scot-tie Scheff-ler!" chants to drown them out.
The Norwegians also brought the "row," which has gone viral in the stadium and
subway stations and wherever they go. They sit shoulder to shoulder, arms out
and then forcefully pull them in. Hovland had never seen it in person until
Saturday.
When it was over, he sat with his people and they showed him how it's done.
"You definitely get adrenaline from it," he said.
Hovland had plenty of that Sunday afternoon when he returned from a 90-minute
rain delay and made three straight birdies to catch up to Scheffler and
eventually get into the playoff. He closed with a 69, while Scheffler had a 68.
They finished at 21-under 259.
Hovland is rarely satisfied with a swing that has given him a reputation for
making solid contact. He felt it gaining momentum with a third-place finish in
Canada, and even in the U.S. Open despite missing the cut. There was always one
bad swing that allowed doubts to creep in.
Those were gone at the TPC River Highlands, particularly at the end. He was
first to hit in the playoff and drilled it down the middle, just as he had done
all week.
"I've been playing golf with Viktor for a long time. We've had some good
battles in college and out here as a pro," Scheffler said. "He's a guy that has
a lot of talent and works really hard. So those are the types of guys you like
to see have success."
For Scheffler, it was his fourth runner-up finish this year after opening his
season with a victory at The American Express in the California desert. But he
felt a little momentum, even in a playoff loss, as he gets ready a three-week
stretch that includes the British Open, the final major of the year.
"Ball striking is definitely in a good spot. That was some of the best I hit it
all season," Scheffler said. "Obviously I think just a little disappointed with
the results of today. But, yeah, I did a good job of keeping myself in the
tournament last night, made the nice putt to close out last night, and so
trying to remember that one."
Hovland headed home for Norway with his parents. As for his throng of
flag-waving, rowing supporters? Norway plays Ivory Coast on Tuesday in Dallas,
the hometown of Scheffler.
"That was probably more coincidental," Hovland said with a laugh. "That should
be a good game."
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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