Viktor Hovland is in the mix at the Valspar Championship after battling with swing issues throughout the season. Heading into the weekend, Hovland is just one shot behind the leader, Jacob Bridgeman, who holds the top spot at 6-under after a 2-under 69 on Friday. Bridgeman’s round was nearly flawless until he missed a 4-foot par putt on the 18th, dropping him from a two-shot lead. Several other players, including Hovland, are in close contention with scores of 5-under or better, putting them in range of the top spot.
Hovland, who has had notable success in recent years, including a FedEx Cup win, has been struggling with his swing, which has led to a revolving door of coaches. Despite these challenges, the Norwegian golfer remains focused on improving his game rather than just accumulating victories. Hovland admitted that while he’s not sure where his ball is going to go at times, hitting solid shots is a good starting point. After a tough opening round at The Players Championship, Hovland’s performance on Friday showed that his work with his coach is paying off.
Alongside Hovland on the leaderboard are players like Byeong Hun An (67), Ryo Hisatsune (66), and a group at 4-under, which includes Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele. Lowry had a strong finish with six birdies on the back nine, though he faltered on the front nine, finishing with a 69. Schauffele, who is returning from a rib injury, has struggled in his last two tournaments but is still just two shots off the lead. His goal this week is simply to stay competitive and put himself in contention for Sunday.
The cut line was set at 2-over 144, and several notable players barely made it, including Adam Scott, who managed to make the cut with birdies on his final holes. The cut was nearly different, as Neal Shipley’s missed par putt on the 18th hole allowed the cut to remain at 1-over instead of 2-over. The leaderboard remains tight, with only eight shots separating the leader from the player in last place. As the weekend approaches, the drama and excitement are expected to continue.