“Supposed to Bluff”: After His $3.6M Glory, Viktor Hovland Divulges the Essence of Poker in His Game Thanks to His Veteran Italian Mentor

Published 08/23/2023, 8:29 PM EDT

Since Viktor Hovland turned professional in 2019, he has had 9 official wins under his belt. This has allowed the golfer to display his caliber in the sports arena and make a strong statement. But, what if behind his recent rise to fame, including the $3. 6 million title, is not just his hard work but smart play with the help of a fellow player?

That’s exactly what the Norwegian golfer delved into at his recent press conference on Wednesday. It involved a bit of poker tactics, an Italian golfer cum statistician, and some interesting disclosures. On top of it all, it showcased the beautiful mix-up of numbers in the improvement of the quality of shots.

How did the golf pro help uncover Viktor Hovland’s game?

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The game of golf is an amalgamation of multitudinous innovations that majorly cranks it up. The use of a factor like data analytics runs around the same circle, bringing help to the strategy and course management of players. The credit for currently applying this foreign concept into the sport lies in the hands of an Italian professional golfer.

Despite being a fairly new technique to be used on the greens, the golf stars have not shied away from grabbing this opportunity. His recent student is none other than the Norwegian star, Victor Hovland. Remain settled, the added tricks seem to only have added to the beauty of the sport!

Hence, when asked about his teaming up with Edoardo Molinari, Viktor Hovland provided a straightforward answer. Touching on his Augusta performance [T7], the 5 time PGA Tour winner revealed how during the 2023 Masters the Italian big brain helped him look at his game differently.

Looking at his numbers, Molinari told Hovland that something was missing from his strokeplay. To better deliver his point, he made an analogy with the game of poker. In terms of poker, Hovland’s frequencies were “a bit off,” per the Italian statistician. Drawing onto the same, the 25-year-old elaborated that there are times when one needs to bet, moments to check-raise, and “supposed to bluff“. But, most importantly, one needs to know when to short side.

That is how exactly the golfer’s issue on the greens was presented to him. His short siding was way more than the average when it came to any tournament. This is what he called “very revealing.” Interestingly, the pair of Norwegian and Italian golfers had formed an alliance just a year back, thanks to Hovland’s instructor- Joe Mayo’s aid.

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However, shortly after their accord, Molinari was in awe of the young golfer and his determination. With that, let us look at who Edoardo Molinari is and what he has to say about the 2023 BMW Championship winner.

Who is Edoardo Molinari?

Edoardo Molinari is a name of newness currently in the golf dynamics. He, though, has his identity also associated with his younger brother, Francesco Molinari. Both have multiple victories to their names, along with eminent experience. While the Italian golfer has been in the professional arena for a long amount of time, his fame draws majorly from his latest added technique.

The 42-year-old has brought forth a unique assessing pattern of the skills. Though his transformation of the game has largely not benefitted the golfer himself, he has surely been able to lend some help to others. Among the list lie three professional golfers- U.S. Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Thomas Pieters, and Viktor Hovland. Molinari, who is an engineer, has been a trailblazing sensation in the game.

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While addressing Hovland’s discernment of strokeplay, the Italian professional revealed, “Viktor’s potential is limitless”. He emphasized specifically the Norwegian having a look out for course management. Divulging the conversations with the 25-year-old’s caddie, Shay Knight, he expressed his applause for the young golfer.

Calling him a “super-smart kid” and appreciating his wish to learn, he reiterated how the golf star knew exactly what he wanted. With the introduction of more aggression into his shots, the senior player seemed content with the younger golfer’s learning abilities.

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With that, what do you think of data analytics as a part of golf? What are your views on Molinari’s assessment? Let us know in the comments!

Watch this story: Months After Securing His Maiden PGA Tour Victory, Davis Riley Puts an Incredibly Smart Move to Action At a $9M Rolex Sponsored Event

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Written by:

Areeba Basharat is a Golf writer at EssentiallySports. She drives inspiration from the women players at the LPGA who've taken the sport to a level that allows female golfers to flourish and thrive with grace. Areeba defines her love for the sport by quoting legend, Michelle Wie West : "The first time I grabbed a golf club, I knew that I would do it for the rest of my life."

Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe

“Supposed to Bluff”: After His $3.6M Glory, Viktor Hovland Divulges the Essence of Poker in His Game Thanks to His Veteran Italian Mentor

How did the golf pro help uncover Viktor Hovland’s game?

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Who is Edoardo Molinari?