BMW Championship: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler praise Viktor Hovland after ‘amazing’ victory | Golf News

Viktor Hovland claimed a fifth PGA Tour title with a surprising two-shot win on the BMW Championship; Hovland set a brand new course report with a final-round 61 to carry off Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick in Illinois

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Highlights of the ultimate spherical of the BMW Championship from the Olympia Fields Nation Membership in Illinois.

Viktor Hovland believes he produced the spherical of his profession thus far to grab a dramatic victory over world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Fitzpatrick on the BMW Championship.

Hovland overturned a three-stroke deficit throughout a outstanding closing day at Olympic Fields Nation Membership, the place he birdied seven of his final 9 holes to set a brand new course report with a tremendous nine-under 61.

The quick end noticed the Norwegian star end two strokes away from Scheffler and Fitzpatrick, along with his fifth PGA Tour title additionally seeing him bounce to second within the FedExCup standings going into the season-ending Tour Championship.

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Watch the very best photographs from Viktor Hovland’s sensible closing spherical 61 as he triumphed on the BMW Championship.

Requested the place that spherical ranked in his profession, Hovland informed Sky Sports activities: “It needs to be primary. I bear in mind enjoying a fairly particular spherical of golf my first yr on [the PGA] Tour, I shot seven underneath at Torrey Pines when it was hailing and windy and raining and that is in all probability the very best I’ve ever struck it all through a spherical.

“However to shoot 61 and shoot 28 on the again 9 at this golf course and underneath the circumstances, I’ve nothing that beats that.”

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Viktor Hovland was ecstatic after capturing 61 to win the BMW Championship by two photographs.

Hovland, who blended 10 birdies with a lone bogey, added: “I used to be pondering if I publish a rating like I did yesterday (65) I may at the least have an opportunity, but it surely’s exhausting when you could have so many guys in entrance of you which are actually good. Catching warmth on the again 9 was what I needed to do.”

The 25-year-old was enjoying alongside Ryder Cup team-mate and reigning FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy, who ended the week 5 strokes again in fourth spot after a four-under 66 on Sunday.

Viktor Hovland ended the week on 17 underneath after a Sunday to recollect

“I felt like I performed very common on the market subsequent to Viktor [Hovland],” McIlroy stated. “He performed wonderful. I used to be marking his card in there and I am like, ‘oh, you solely made one 4 on the again 9, the remainder threes’, so it provides as much as a pleasant little 28 for him. It was nice to see. He performed nice. I type of realized round like 14, 15 one thing fairly particular was occurring.

“He [Hovland] has had some nice wins already this yr. Had an amazing probability on the PGA Championship. Did not fairly get it accomplished, however yeah, he is a world-class participant and searching ahead to him being on my crew for the Ryder Cup in just a few weeks’ time.”

Viktor Hovland will begin the Tour Championship in second and on eight underneath

Scheffler held at the least a share of the lead for many of the closing day earlier than fading over the closing holes, with the six-time PGA Tour winner surprised by how Hovland closed out the event.

“It is a fairly wonderful spherical of golf to win this event like that,” Scheffler stated of Hovland’s 61. “I nonetheless do not perceive how the scores had been so low this week. This place appears fairly exhausting to me, however guys are simply ripping it up. 61 is a unbelievable spherical, particularly with Sunday strain.

Scottie Scheffler narrowly missed out on a seventh PGA Tour title

“I am only a bit pissed off. I feel that may be the way in which to explain it. I imply, Viktor went out and actually simply beat me at present and performed a unbelievable spherical. I can maintain my head excessive – I did my finest on the market at present and fought exhausting. Simply finally got here up a few photographs brief.”

Fitzpatrick began the week outdoors the top-30 within the FedExCup standings however secured his place at East Lake by claiming a share of second, with the previous US Open champion having no complaints about narrowly lacking out on victory.

“Cannot do something about 61,” Fitzpatrick stated. “I did simply see Viktor [Hovland], I known as him slightly s***! However for me, simply actually happy once more that I performed very well closing spherical in competition with the world No 1 and I did not lose it.

“Another person got here from behind and received it – cannot do something about that. I really feel like my sport is certainly in higher form than it was and searching ahead to attending to subsequent week and dealing on it some extra.”

What’s subsequent?

The beginning positions heading into the season-ending Tour Championship

The PGA Tour season reaches its climax on Thursday on the Tour Championship, the place solely the highest 30 within the FedExCup standings get to function and gamers are given a strokes-based benefit primarily based on their place.

Scheffler will begin with a two-shot lead over Hovland and McIlroy will start on seven underneath in third spot, whereas Jon Rahm begins in fourth forward of Lucas Glover.

Who will win the FedExCup? Watch the Tour Championship all through the week stay on Sky Sports activities. Stay protection begins on Thursday from 5pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.