From back-to-back 3 wins in 2023 to a 1.5-year drought before his Valspar victory in 2025, Viktor Hovland’s journey has been a rollercoaster. “That’s a little disappointing,” he admitted after round 3 of the BMW PGA Championship. Even in celebration of him getting selected for the Ryder Cup, his 600-day struggle remains on his mind — and though he ended his drought with a win this year, the question lingers: why does the battle continue?

The Norwegian told the media after carding 71 in the third round. “Yeah, it was a really nice start. I was kind of licking my chops there. Felt like I was in somewhat control of my game, and I just kept plugging along.” Viktor Hovland opened strong with rounds of 67 and 66 to reach 11-under after two days. In round three, a double bogey on the 12th and a few mistakes led to a 71, leaving him at 12-under overall and still in contention heading into the final round.

“But battling my golf swing all year, and had to pay the price there at the end of the front nine, and particularly the back nine there. 12th hole, making the double bogey there, really stinks. That’s giving up three shots right there. That’s a little disappointing,” Hovland said. He added, “No, I’ve been struggling with it for almost two years now. So it’s not something that’s just going to change overnight.” Hovland’s Valspar Championship win this year came after three straight missed cuts, and even after that victory, it took him five more tournaments to break back into the top 10.

Viktor Hovland’s 2024 season saw several highs, but also some tough lows, with his worst performances coming at the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship, where he missed the cut in both events. At Augusta, he opened with a 71 but faltered badly in the second round with an 81, finishing +8 and failing to advance. Later at The Open, Hovland never found his rhythm, carding rounds of 75 and 77 to finish +10 and miss the cut again. These setbacks were especially significant given that earlier in the season, Hovland had reached a career-high OWGR of 4th, only to see his ranking slip dangerously close to the edge of the top 10 — dropping as low as 15th — in the months that followed, underscoring his inconsistency throughout the year.

The struggle was evident as Viktor Hovland had earlier opened up about it during the Valspar Championship, hinting at losing his once-celebrated golf swing, praised by fans and even his former coach, Joe Mayo. But this isn’t his only challenge. Earlier this year, Hovland also shared how he relies on guesstimation for putting, shedding light on another hurdle in his game.

While Hovland has managed to battle through and even grab a win at the Valspar Championship, Sam Burns is still searching for his breakthrough. Making his second Ryder Cup appearance, Burns’ situation mirrors Hovland’s in terms of a prolonged drought. Unlike Hovland, who ended his 1.5-year winless stretch, Burns has yet to secure a victory on the PGA Tour in 2025. His season has been marked by inconsistent performances and missed opportunities, and he currently sits at T30 at the Procure Championship, highlighting his ongoing fight to regain form and confidence heading into one of the game’s biggest stages.

How has golf been for all the US Captain’s picks in 2025?

The 2025 season has been a mixed bag for the USA Ryder Cup captain’s picks, with most battling prolonged slumps while a few finally broke through. Justin Thomas ended a 2.5-year winless drought earlier this year, showing signs of a comeback just in time for the Ryder Cup. Collin Morikawa, despite switching caddies multiple times, remains stuck in a two-year winless stretch, unable to recapture his early-career dominance.

On the other hand, Ben Griffin has been a bright spot, turning pro in 2028 and notching his first two career wins in 2025. Cameron Young, who turned pro in 2029, also claimed his maiden victory this season, finally living up to his potential. Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay finished second in the FedEx Cup standings, but like Morikawa, he continues to chase a win, with his drought stretching over two years. This mix of breakthroughs and ongoing struggles sets up an intriguing dynamic for Team USA heading into the Ryder Cup.