As the Valspar Championship was winding down, a question emerged.  

Which star will end their winless drought: Justin Thomas or Viktor Hovland?

With four holes left, it appeared the answer would definitely be Thomas. Winless since the 2022 PGA Championship, he had a three-stroke lead over Hovland. Then, it all evaporated in 22 minutes. 

The Snake Pit (Innisbrook’s final three holes) bit Thomas with a bogey on the par-4 16th, one of the hardest holes on the course. Hovland, meanwhile, made birdies on Nos. 14, 16 and 17 to jump Thomas on the leaderboard. 

At the end of the 72 holes, Hovland was in the winner’s circle, hoisting his first trophy since winning the Tour Championship in August 2023. He finished at 11 under, one stroke ahead of the 31-year-old Thomas.

 MORE: Final results, payouts from the Valspar Championship

Hovland, the 54-hole co-leader, played the first nine at 1 under, while Thomas, who started the day two back, was 3 under on the day making the turn. 

After a birdie on No. 15, Thomas was leading by three when he hit an errant tee shot into the trees on No. 16 and needed to chip out. He managed to escape with a bogey, but that stroke would be pivotal as Hovland, playing in the group behind, made birdie by knocking his approach to 6 feet. 

On the par-3 17th, Hovland sank an 11-footer for birdie, while Thomas’s 17-foot birdie attempt brushed the edge of the cup. 

They both sliced their drives on the closing par-4, but Thomas made bogey, giving Hovland a little more breathing room. Hovland also carded a bogey, however, that would be enough for the victory. 

Hovland has tinkered with his swing since winning the 2023 FedExCup, and has gone through various swing coach changes. After Round 2, the 27-year-old Norwegian was just as puzzled as anyone that he was contending, admitting “I don’t have control over what I'm doing." 

But in the end, Hovland’s game was strong enough to track down one of the game’s greatest talents in Thomas, a two-time major champion and former world No. 1, on one of the Tour’s toughest layouts. 

Now, he’s a seven-time Tour winner—and the answer to the question many of the Valspar Championship’s viewers were asking themselves down the stretch. 


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Viktor Hovland Wins Valspar Championship As Justin Thomas Stumbles Late.