My Two Accidental Interactions with Viktor Hovland…And What it Told Me About his Character
We all know the 24-year-old Norwegian is an outstanding golfer, but there is more to his persona than that ever-present smile and twinkly eyes
In the space of 16 hours, I bumped into Viktor Hovland twice in the Bahamas outside the golf course. I have always liked his amiable personality, but these two interactions taught me much more about Viktor, the man.
This happened at the Hero World Challenge, hosted by Tiger Woods Foundation, which was eventually won by Hovland. The 24-year-old Norwegian started a topsy-turvy Sunday six shots behind world No2 Collin Morikawa, and then stormed to the top of the leaderboard like a determined Viking.
But let me take you back to the Sunday of the previous week.
I stood in the immigration line at Nassau airport – the end of a long, 21-hour journey from Dubai that also involved a four-hour stopover at Miami International Airport. A fellow journalist from India, Rutvick Mehta, was alongside me.
Ahead of me in the queue, a young lady was chatting with a slightly-built person. She asked what he did. As he turned to speak to her, the first giveaway that the person was somehow involved with golf was the Ryder Cup mask he was wearing. Even with the mask on, I knew she was speaking to Viktor.
It was Viktor’s reply that almost made me fall ROFLing! His reply: “I live in Oklahoma and play a bit of golf.”
She had no idea she was speaking to a two-time PGA Tour champion, a world No9 (at that time…world No7 now). Like the rest of us, she obviously had no clue that this would be the man collecting a million-dollar cheque and the Tiger trophy a week later.
Just to do my bit and show the lady that she was speaking to someone famous, I called Viktor by his name, said it was awesome to see him again, and fist-bumped him.
I tweeted that part of the story and it became a big hit with nearly 300,000 impressions, but there was more to come.
I watched Hovland walk up to the immigration officer, only to be told that he needed to fill up a form. He went all the way towards the back of the room. A minute or so later, I watched him speaking to the officers with more anxiousness than when he’d stand over a three-footer putt on the final hole for a win.
The good Samaritan that I am, I called him and asked if something was bothering him. He had a massive, massive problem – Viktor did not have a pen to fill up the paper form.
It was one moment when I hope he realised that the pen was mightier than a 3-wood and that his respect for us golf journalists would grow. We are not completely useless as a tribe!
Before I start appreciating Viktor, there is more to come.
The next morning, we were assembled near the reception of Grand Hyatt Baha Mar to catch the shuttle to the golf course, when in walks Viktor with his luggage and golf bag to check out.
Turns out, he was leaving the hotel to stay in an apartment in Albany, just outside the golf course. He was sharing it with his good friend Morikawa, who’d propose to his girlfriend a couple of days later, and who’d lose a five-shot lead on Sunday and miss the chance of taking over as the new world No1 from Spain’s Jon Rahm.
“Everyone is coming in today. So, I thought I’d rather stay alone in a hotel than pay $2,000 for a night for the apartment,” explained Viktor when I asked.
Later, I called up Rayhan Thomas, the young Dubai-based amateur who is now part of the Oklahoma State University golf team, where Viktor is a legend.
“That’s Viktor for you. He is just a complete dude,” was how Rayhan summed it up. He also told me how the OSU alumnus, who still practises at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, has become his go-to guy for most issues inside and outside the ropes.
“He is the most magnanimous person when it comes to time and advise. I have played many rounds with him at Karsten Creek and learned a lot just looking at how he practices and plays,” Rayhan added.
For someone who is, without a doubt, a champion golfer, there is much more to Viktor than just his golf skills. Here are my three takeaways:
His humility: A world No9 telling someone that he plays “a bit of golf”! Most 24-years-old would have tried their best to impress a good-looking young lady.
His loyalty: Two years on the PGA Tour, and OSU and the Cowboys is definitely a past for him. But Viktor continues to be a huge part of what is one of the most successful college teams in the US – be it with his presence, or his generosity with time and money.
His respect for money: That appealed to me the most. With more than $14 million just in earnings on the golf course, he can afford most things in life. To stay in a hotel because it would cost him one-fifth, or to fly commercial, shows Viktor’s deep respect and appreciation for every cent that he is earning.
One of the best human interest stories I have read in a very long time. It brings so much joy to the reader. More such stories needed.