– There is nothing to suggest that he should not do well. He is one of the world’s best golfers and has had a break after a couple of difficult weeks. The question is whether he is on the cutting edge or not this weekend, says Per Haugsrud, who himself played on the European tour for a number of years.
– With Viktor we have learned that nothing is unrealistic. The goal must be to put yourself in a good position before the weekend, and from there give it an opportunity all the way to Sunday afternoon, says Marius Thorp.
This year’s first major tournament is played Thursday through Sunday at the famous Augusta course in Georgia. The US Masters always goes there in April, but due to the corona pandemic, last year’s edition was moved to the autumn.
At that time, Hovland was in the top 50 in the world rankings. Nevertheless, he was not allowed to participate. The reason was that he was not as highly ranked in the spring, when the tournament should have been played.
Think he’s hungry
This year, on the other hand, the Oslo boy will be released, and he is among the favorites. Hovland is number 14 on the world rankings and number four on the FedExCup rankings.
– He is probably very eager for revenge after he was not allowed to play last year. He is extremely eager to do well now, Haugsrud says to NTB.
– What speaks for Hovland victory?
– It’s a lot about whether he has flow or not. Even the best do not hit good shots all the time, but the times you miss, you have to miss in the right place. It’s a lot about coincidences.
Viasat commentator Joakim Mikkelsen thinks Hovland has good control over most things.
– Most of it is about being patient and playing the stable golf we know he has inside, says Mikkelsen – and adds:
– I think Viktor has gotten to the point where he plays to win wherever he stands, so it is not unrealistic to hope that he will fight at the top. To go all the way, of course, there is a lot to clap.
Important with the putter
At the same time, Haugsrud is aware that there will be no top position if the putter is not hot.
– If the putter is not on the team, you just have to forget the close match. But he has a silky soft putting that fits the Augusta greens. And then there has been a lot of talk that he has not been so good lately. He has been tired and traveled a lot – both around the United States and in the Middle East. It may have been a little too much for him.
– Now he has rested and is probably very ready. I think it can be positive that he has been in a valley of waves. There is not much that speaks against Viktor, in fact. He has not played Masters so many times before, but that can be positive. Then he does not know where the problems on the field are, says Haugsrud and laughs.
Believe in Johnson
He otherwise holds world number one Dustin Johnson as the biggest favorite.
– It is easy to pick “DJ”, but it is also difficult to get around him. All courses suit Dustin, he is insanely good. Otherwise, Bryson DeChambeau can quickly do well. He set the list a little too high last year and did not cope with the pressure, says Haugsrud.
– Then we have a guy like Justin Thomas, who has a completely insane close game. He is completely raw, and good at winning big tournaments. He also has good lengths. I have faith in «JT» too. And then there are always the occasional surprises, he adds.
– The favorites are probably “the usual suspects”, but after the victory in San Antonio, it will be extra exciting to see what Jordan Spieth can achieve this time, Mikkelsen says.
– It is difficult to pick favorites among the very best, and there are many “storylines”, but I have great faith that Jon Rahm can take his first major. And then I’m very excited about Bryson vs. Augusta version 2, and then it will be exciting to see if a Jordan Spieth in great shape will again dominate Augusta, Thorp concludes.
(© NTB)
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