“Wouldn't say I've been very happy” - Viktor Hovland gets honest about his 2024 season days ahead of Tour Championship

Viktor Hovland won the Tour Championship last year. As the week unfolds and Hovland tries his best to defend his crown, he has taken a moment to reflect on the season that came between his massive victory and this week's defense opportunity.

Hovland said:

"I wouldn't say I've been very happy with this year, but I do think I've learned a lot. What's really cool is that I've still made it to this week playing what I felt like is absolute garbage. I think that's something that's pretty cool to kind of have in my back pocket is that okay, we can struggle and we can still come out here and have a chance to win tournaments."

Hovland went without a win in 2024. He finished in the top 10 just twice. At the four Majors, he missed the cut three times and finished third at the PGA Championship. And yet, despite the struggles, he's in the middle of the pack for the final tournament with a chance to defend his crown.

He will begin the tournament at two under par based on his FedEx Cup Standings placement. That means he will need to outplay leader Scottie Scheffler by nine strokes to win and outplay others by a different number as well. He isn't in a great spot, but it could be worse like it is for Justin Thomas and a few others.

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Viktor Hovland discusses playoff format

The format in which the PGA Tour holds its playoffs is slightly controversial. Despite not winning either of the two playoff tournaments, Scottie Scheffler is ranked first and has a 10-under score to begin.

Viktor Hovland will try to defend his title at the Tour Championship (Source: Imagn)

The scores are staggered to give those who earned it an advantage, but it leaves players who fought to make it in to this event, like Justin Thomas, with a serious disadvantage.

Viktor Hovland, who won it all last year, addressed the format via ASAP Sports:

"There's a few tournaments and you're playing for so many points. Scottie has definitely earned to be Player of the Year because I don't think anyone has kind of sniffed his results this year. But it is a playoff for a reason, and I think the Playoffs have been through a lot of different iterations."

Hovland went on to say that he didn't really know what would work best, but that the current format is pretty "decent". He added:

"Is it perfect? I wouldn't say so. But I don't really know a better way you can do it, although I haven't given it too much thought, to be honest with you."

Viktor Hovland will try to overcome the deficit thanks to the format beginning this weekend.