Viktor Hovland talks about FedEx Cup playoff format's impact on him- "I shouldn't have any business being here this week"

Viktor Hovland opened up about the FedEx Cup Playoffs format as he prepares to defend his title at the 2024 BMW Championship. The Norwegian golfer attended a pre-tournament press conference for this week’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, where he was asked about the playoff format.

Viktor Hovland had a strong start to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, finishing runner-up at the St. Jude Championship. Last year, he won back-to-back FedEx Cup Playoff events, including the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship.

Heading into this week’s BMW Championship, Hovland has his eyes set on winning the tournament. After his solid finish at St. Jude, he is optimistic about his game and is focused on improving his position in the FedEx Cup standings.

"Do you feel like the way you're playing right now is sort of emphasizing that, that anything can happen at the end?," a reporter asked him during the press conference of 2024 BMW Championship.

Replying to the reporter, Hovland said (via ASAP Sports):

"Yeah, are else I shouldn't have any business being here this week. Yeah, I think that's pretty cool. Kind of squeaked by in Memphis, and showing up that week and just knowing that, okay, if I have a couple good weeks, we can still win this thing, that gives you a little bit more motivation than just kind of showing up and if this was all over and there wasn't that much I could do to improve my position, that would be a little different."

"I think that's a little exciting. I think that gives everyone a reason to tune in and see what's going on and seeing guys that are just barely getting into the Playoffs, and now you suddenly have a chance to win the whole thing. I think that's an exciting thing about the Playoffs," he added.

The 2024 BMW Championship will begin with the first round on Thursday, August 22, and conclude on Sunday, August 25, at Castle Pines Golf Course. The tournament will feature only the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings, and following this event, only the top 30 will advance to the Tour Championship.

Viktor Hovland currently ranks 16th in the standings and is eligible to compete in the Tour Championship next week. However, the final field for the Tour Championship will be determined after the completion of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

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What are Viktor Hovland's odds of winning the 2024 BMW Championship?

According to CBS Sports, Viktor Hovland's odds to win the 2024 BMW Championship are +1400. He is one of the top favorites to win this week. Scottie Scheffler is the most favorite with odds of +300 followed by Xander Schauffele, whose odds are +550.

Here are the odds of the golfers for the 2024 BMW Championship (as per CBS Sports):

• Scottie Scheffler +300
• Xander Schauffele +550
• Rory McIlroy +1200
• Viktor Hovland +1400
• Collin Morikawa +1600
• Tony Finau +1800
• Hideki Matsuyama +1800
• Patrick Cantlay +1800
• Wyndham Clark +2000
• Ludvig Aberg +2200
• Tommy Fleetwood +2800
• Russell Henley +3000
• Sam Burns +3500
• Billy Horschel +4000
• Justin Thomas +4500
• Corey Conners +5000
• Sungjae Im +5000
• Cameron Young +5000
• Nick Dunlap +5000
• Aaron Rai +5000
• Sahith Theegala +5500

Viktor Hovland will tee off for the first round of the 2024 BMW Championship in a group with Byeong Hun An at 10:40 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 22.