Viktor Hovland is ready to break his curse. It is the first time in 574 days that the young Norwegian heads to the final day of a PGA Tour event with a lead. The last time it happened was the 2023 Tour Championship. He ended up winning that event, overcoming Xander Schauffele by 5 strokes. He has not won on the tour since.
“If it just feels good and I can see it performing better… that’s enough for me to convince myself that it’s going to work,” he told Golf.com in 2021 on changing his gear. He mentioned the importance of equipment-confidence over plain data to nail shots. He is now tied for first place at the Valspar Championship with one round left to play. At 7 under, there is him, Colombian sensation Nico Echavarria, and American riser Jacob Bridgeman. Hovland will be heading to the last day with a real shot at victory. Let’s take a look at what the Ryder Cup star is going to be using to fight for his potential seventh PGA Tour victory.
Viktor Hovland’s arsenal for the Valspar Championship
The Norwegian who has a partnership with PING has a properly curated equipment setup that fits his playstyle. His driver is the G425 LST Driver 9° with a Fujikura Speeder 661 shaft costs around $549.00. It offers a lower spin and has a more compact shape compared to the G425 Max. However, its forgiveness is on the lower side, meaning you need to have good control to use this club effectively. With his PING G425 LST 9° driver in hand, Viktor Hovland powered through the 2023 fairways to win the Memorial, BMW Championship, and Tour Championship – ultimately seizing the FedExCup. Despite not clinching a win in 2024, Hovland’s consistency with the PING G425 LST is promising.
The TaylorMade Qi10 (15°) with a Fujikura Ventus Blue 7X is one major club in Hovland’s bag that is not from Ping. He made this switch in 2024 from TaylorMade Stealth Plus 3-wood. The 3-wood is highly forgiving and has the ability to provide good levels of flight to the ball. It requires a lot of practice to use properly and it costs around $270.
Viktor Hovland of Norway lines upon a putt on the 13th green in the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on Thursday, April 6, 2023. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY AUG20230406012 JOHNxANGELILLO. Image Courtesy: IMAGO
The irons used by Viktor Hovland is the Ping i210 offers great forgiveness, allowing for more freedom of use. It also provides good consistency and covers a good range of distances. The entire set costs around $570. The 6-time PGA Tour winner also uses the Titleist U505 as a driving iron.
Wedge, putter, and ball choice for Viktor Hovland
The choice of wedge for the Norwegian is the Ping s159 (50°, 56°), and a Ping Glide 2.0 (60°) with a True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shaft. Though he’s used these in previous seasons, the current ones are upgrades. A new Glide model costs around $150. It has upgraded spin and consistency from the older model. While the impact sound is muted, the feedback quality on the hands is solid. Consistency is also a very delightful feature of the club.
The s159 on the other hand, is available for $179. It produces a good level of spin and is good even for mid to low-level handicapped golfers. It could wear out fast though. The putter of choice for Hovland is the Ping PLD DS72. The high-cost, $449 putter could be a . However, the putter has a clean and unshakeable feel that makes it worth the amount. The grooves look clean, the alignment is proper and the club also gives proper feedback.
Hovland uses the Titleist ProV1 balls. Prized at $55, the ball is consistent and has a soft and responsive feel, but it lacks carry distance. V1x also provides a much better spin for the short game. Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay, and Wyndham Clark, all use these balls. For shoes, Hovland uses Puma’s Ignite Elevate 2. Costing $130, they offer good stability due to it’s FLOATPLATE technology. Hovland’s apparel partner is J. Lindeberg, which provides high-quality clothing for ease of use on the course.
With the last day of the Valspar Championship looming, Hovland will head into battle with these weapons by his side. Some familiar and some upgraded. But, he’s been thoughtful throughout. Do you think he has the tools necessary to claim his first PGA Tour victory in 574 days?
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