It seems like withdrawals are the new trend on the PGA Tour this year. Seriously, players are dropping out left and right. The WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is at the helm, but we’re already missing some big names like Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy, and Ludvig Åberg. And now, Viktor Hovland has decided to pull out too. Paul Waring will be stepping in for him, but fans are definitely raising their eyebrows.
Hovland’s 2024 has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He’s played in two PGA Tour events and one DP World Tour event. He finished T36 at the Sentry, missed the cut at the Dubai Desert Classic, and right now he’s sitting T21 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. So, no wins or top-10 finishes just yet, but that doesn’t mean he’s been playing badly. At Pebble Beach, for example, he shot a solid 65 on day one before following up with a 71 to make the cut. Not bad at all, right?
But even with those decent rounds, Hovland wasn’t exactly thrilled. After the first round at Pebble Beach, he said, “I’m still not happy with my game, how it looks, but that doesn’t mean that I can have great individual days or great individual tournaments.” We get it, Hovland. When you’ve won six times on the PGA Tour, you expect a certain level of consistency. His 2024 has been pretty quiet so far, and after an impressive 2023 season that ended with his first FedEx Cup win, you can understand why he’s feeling the pressure.
#NEW: Viktor Hovland has withdrawn from next week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. He’s currently inside the Top 10 at Pebble Beach. @TrackingHovland pic.twitter.com/DgpcHhevM7
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) February 1, 2025
He also talked about how hard it’s been dealing with his current form, especially when you’ve just had the best year of your career. He said, “Yeah, well, your expectations just start, you know, lowering drastically because I know what I’m capable of. 2023 I had the best season of my career and I know I can play at that level again. And I want to play at that level every single time.” When you know you can play at that level, it’s tough to settle for anything less.
As for why he’s pulling out of the Phoenix Open, well, no one really knows yet. Fans are already coming up with their own theories, and some are pretty disappointed to see him sit out.
Viktor Hovland’s withdrawal from Phoenix Open disappoints fans
When there is no reason, a reason is created. In Hovland‘s case, some golf fans think that he is probably heading to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League, leaving th traditional circuit. As a fan wrote, “Like a good neighbor, LIV Golf is there.” Another user called out his decision stating, “Garbage choice Viktor”
But not everyone’s buying into the LIV rumors. Some fans are giving him the benefit of the doubt, like one who said, “Good for you. WM 16th hole is an embarrassment, hazard and cringy. If I were a pro, I would never play there,” a fan wrote. Honestly, it’s hard not to understand that—turns out, even Rory McIlroy isn’t a fan of the course. Back in 2023, he said, “I wouldn’t say that this is a golf course that sets up terribly well for me. I struggle off the tee here. I feel like all the fairway bunkers are right in my landing zones.” So it’s no surprise that McIlroy hasn’t been back in 2024, and he’s sitting out this year too.
Then, of course, there are fans who are just poking fun. One wrote, “Man really said “nah, I’m good” to the rowdiest tourney of the year.”
Another chimed in with, “He couldn’t handle the Wast(ed) Management Open fans throwing beer at him.” If you’ve been to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, you know it’s wild—massive crowds, tons of energy, and maybe a little too much chaos. But for 2025, the event is cracking down with a new “zero tolerance” policy for unruly behavior, so maybe that’ll tone things down a bit.
But let’s not get too carried away with the theories. Some fans are pointing out that Hovland just isn’t happy with his game right now, like one who said, “He’s still not happy with his game, he prefers practice when he’s not feeling his swing. He’s said this numerous times. Genesis is in 2 weeks, he’ll play that. We don’t need to do this song and dance every time he WDs lol nothing to do with LIV or anything.”
Maybe it’s just that simple—Hovland’s not where he wants to be with his game, so he’s taking the time to work on it. Whatever the case, we hope to see Hovland back in the mix soon.
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