BMW Championship: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler praise Viktor Hovland after ‘wonderful’ victory | Golf News

Viktor Hovland claimed a fifth PGA Tour title with a surprising two-shot win on the BMW Championship; Hovland set a brand new course document with a final-round 61 to carry off Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick in Illinois

Viktor Hovland believes he produced the spherical of his profession to date to grab a dramatic victory over world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Ryder Cup team-mate Matt Fitzpatrick on the BMW Championship.

Hovland overturned a three-stroke deficit throughout a exceptional remaining day at Olympic Fields Country Club, the place he birdied seven of his final 9 holes to set a brand new course document with a tremendous nine-under 61.

The quick end noticed the Norwegian star end two strokes away from Scheffler and Fitzpatrick, along with his fifth PGA Tour title additionally seeing him soar to second within the FedExCup standings going into the season-ending Tour Championship.

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Watch the perfect pictures from Viktor Hovland’s good remaining spherical 61 as he triumphed on the BMW Championship.

Asked the place that spherical ranked in his profession, Hovland instructed Sky Sports: “It has to be number one. I remember playing a pretty special round of golf my first year on [the PGA] Tour, I shot seven under at Torrey Pines when it was hailing and windy and raining and that’s probably the best I’ve ever struck it throughout a round.

“But to shoot 61 and shoot 28 on the again 9 at this golf course and underneath the circumstances, I’ve nothing that beats that.”

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Viktor Hovland was ecstatic after shooting 61 to win the BMW Championship by two shots.

Hovland, who mixed 10 birdies with a lone bogey, added: “I used to be considering if I publish a rating like I did yesterday (65) I might a minimum of have an opportunity, nevertheless it’s exhausting when you will have so many guys in entrance of you which are actually good. Catching warmth on the again 9 was what I needed to do.”

The 25-year-old was playing alongside Ryder Cup team-mate and reigning FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy, who ended the week five strokes back in fourth spot after a four-under 66 on Sunday.

Viktor Hovland ended the week on 17 underneath after a Sunday to recollect

“I felt like I performed very common on the market subsequent to Viktor [Hovland],” McIlroy said. “He performed wonderful. I used to be marking his card in there and I’m like, ‘oh, you solely made one 4 on the again 9, the remaining threes’, so it provides as much as a pleasant little 28 for him. It was nice to see. He performed nice. I kind of realized round like 14, 15 one thing fairly particular was occurring.

“He [Hovland] has had some great wins already this year. Had a great chance at the PGA Championship. Didn’t quite get it done, but yeah, he’s a world-class player and looking forward to him being on my team for the Ryder Cup in a few weeks’ time.”

Viktor Hovland will begin the Tour Championship in second and on eight underneath

Scheffler held a minimum of a share of the lead for many of the remaining day earlier than fading over the closing holes, with the six-time PGA Tour winner surprised by how Hovland closed out the event.

“It’s a pretty amazing round of golf to win this tournament like that,” Scheffler mentioned of Hovland’s 61. “I still don’t understand how the scores were so low this week. This place seems pretty hard to me, but guys are just ripping it up. 61 is a fantastic round, especially with Sunday pressure.

Scottie Scheffler narrowly missed out on a seventh PGA Tour title

“I’m only a bit annoyed. I feel that might be the best way to explain it. I imply, Viktor went out and actually simply beat me at present and performed a improbable spherical. I can maintain my head excessive – I did my finest on the market at present and fought exhausting. Just in the end got here up a few pictures quick.”

Fitzpatrick started the week outside the top-30 in the FedExCup standings but secured his place at East Lake by claiming a share of second, with the former US Open champion having no complaints about narrowly missing out on victory.

“Can’t do something about 61,” Fitzpatrick said. “I did simply see Viktor [Hovland], I known as him slightly s***! But for me, simply actually happy once more that I performed rather well remaining spherical in competition with the world No 1 and I did not lose it.

“Someone else came from behind and won it – can’t do anything about that. I feel like my game is definitely in better shape than it was and looking forward to getting to next week and working on it some more.”

What’s subsequent?

The beginning positions heading into the season-ending Tour Championship

The PGA Tour season reaches its climax on Thursday on the Tour Championship, the place solely the highest 30 within the FedExCup standings get to function and gamers are given a strokes-based benefit primarily based on their place.

Scheffler will begin with a two-shot lead over Hovland and McIlroy will start on seven underneath in third spot, whereas Jon Rahm begins in fourth forward of Lucas Glover.

Who will win the FedExCup? Watch the Tour Championship all through the week dwell on Sky Sports. Live protection begins on Thursday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and extra for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.