Valspar Championship: Viktor Hovland seals sensational stunning comeback victory to edge out Justin Thomas

Viktor Hovland sealed his first victory since the 2023 Tour Championship with a stunning comeback victory at the Valspar Championship, edging out Justin Thomas

The Norwegian, who missed the cut in his previous three tournaments, notched birdies on three of his final five holes to shoot four-under-par 67 and seal a famous win at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course.

“I hit a lot of disgusting shots, but they just happened to go where I looked,” Hovland joked. “Somehow I was able to hit the good shots I can a lot more often.”

He finished 11-under for a one-stroke victory over Justin Thomas, having been three strokes off the pace on the back nine before he went on a rampaging run.

“I honestly did not believe I could do it this week,” he said.

It looked bleak even after Hovland and Thomas finally separated from the pack during a final round so tight that nine players had at least a share of the lead at some point.

Hovland was three shots behind Thomas when he holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-five 14th to start his amazing run. He hit a seven-iron at a tucked pin on the 16th hole – the toughest hole on the course – to five feet for birdie that tied him for the lead.

And then he took dead aim to a back pin on the par-three 17th to 12 feet for birdie, which turned into a two-shot cushion when Thomas faltered late.

“I’ve had plenty of chances this season, but nothing quite like that,” said Thomas, whose last victory was the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

“I felt so good out there, so excited for every shot,” he said. “Hell, there’s not much I can do. He birdied 16 and 17. I obviously made it a lot easier. It’s really hard – but really fun – trying to win golf tournaments.”

Jacob Bridgeman, who led at the tournament’s midway mark, was third at nine-under.

Bud Cauley (66), Billy Horschel (67) and Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune (68) tied for fourth place at eight-under. Davis Riley (69) was seventh at seven-under.

Horschel makes improbable birdie

Horschel delivered the most incredible shot at Innisbrook when his ball settled up against a tree on the par-five fifth hole.

He inverted a nine-iron and swung left-handed, hitting it 117 yards onto the green and converting the birdie putt from just outside 30 feet.

“There was no way to hit it but lefty,” Horschel said. “I grabbed a nine-iron hoping it wouldn’t go too far, and I was just hoping to get it up in the air and go straight.”

He also required some gallery control – specifically his young son.

“The funny thing was my little boy was about 50 yards in front of me just to the left on the cart path sitting down, and I had to yell at him to sort of get out of the way because I didn’t know exactly where this thing could go,” Horschel said.

“Last thing I need to do is call my wife and tell her I just hit my son with a golf ball.

“Listen, it was a hit-and-hope shot and I pulled it off and to make the putt… I mean, funny things happen like that.”

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