Viktor Hovland has officially withdrawn from this upcoming weekend’s Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Before you get all worked up, it has nothing to do with LIV Golf, and the Norwegian is staying put on the PGA Tour.
It has become a knee-jerk reaction of PGA Tour fans to immediately believe that a player withdrawing from an event is a surefire way to tell if someone is going to defect to LIV Golf. News of Hovland’s WD this morning was no different, but there is a reason for his decision to not play what is the PGA Tour’s official party weekend.
Viktor Hovland WD from the WM Phoenix Open; Victor Perez in.
Thorbjørn Olesen and Jorge Campillo WD from alternate list.
Alexander Björk is now the first alternate.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) February 5, 2024
Hovland is taking a week off to prepare for the upcoming Genesis Invitational at Riviera, as he has reportedly been frustrated with his play over the past several weeks.
He is also rumored to be nursing a wrist or hand injury, but this is unconfirmed.
Norwegian golf journalist Marius Thorp reported on X today:
“Viktor will take a week of training in Florida before returning to competition in the Genesis Invitational. Didn’t feel comfortable with tournament play as it is now and wanted to figure out the swing and find a [good] feel [before] he goes to LA.
Fått bekreftet at Viktor tar en uke med trening i Florida før han returnerer til konkurranse i Genesis Invitational.
Følte seg ikke komfortabel med turneringsspill slik ståa er nå og ønsket å finne ut av svingen og finne en gpd følelse for han drar til LA!@ESN_golf
— Marius Thorp (@MariusThorp) February 5, 2024
After going on a tear last year by posting four Top 20s at the Majors, including a T7 at the Masters and T2 at the PGA Championship, Hovland won the BMW Championship and the FedEx Cup, bringing home tens of millions in the process and having what was his most successful year.
However, he parted ways with coach Joey Mayo in the offseason, and his cold streak could be related to the adjustments of a new coach.
Hovland has been the center of some rumors regarding a potential departure from the PGA Tour to head to LIV Golf. However, Viktor has shut these down on numerous occasions.
It is safe to say Hovland will likely remain on the Tour for at least the near-term.
Cover Image via PGA Tour
Read More: Viktor Hovland Withdraws from Waste Management — No, It’s Not a LIV Defection