Viktor Hovland eats the entire head of a sheep for lunch in latest Instagram post

Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland recently took to his Instagram handle to share a picture of one of his meals. He showcased a picture of Smalahove, a traditional dish from his native Norway.

The meal featured an entire roasted sheep's head served on white chinaware. Accompanying the dish were boiled potatoes, cut-up sausages, and mashed rutabaga, known as kålrabistappe.

The picture on Hovland's Instagram story gave his fans a peek into his heritage and culture. Here's a look at the traditional Norwegian delicacy (via Instagram @viktor_hovland):

Viktor Hovland shares a picture of his traditional Norwegian meal - Source:via @viktor_hovland on Instagram

The dish preparation begins by removing the fleece from the head. This is typically done by burning it off and then scraping away any remaining residue. The brains are then removed before the head undergoes cold smoking over Alderwood and dry curing with salt. When ready to eat, the head is boiled or steamed for approximately three hours.

Norwegians tend to eat the ears and eyes first before working their way from front to back. While the PGA Tour superstar surprised many with this meal choice, Smalahove is considered a delicacy in western Norway and is traditionally prepared around Christmas.

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Viktor Hovland's 2024 PGA Tour Results Explored

Viktor Hovland made 16 starts on the PGA Tour this year. Out of 13 cuts made, he recorded eight top-25 finishes, two top-ten finishes, and one runner-up finish. The Ryder Cup star ended the year ranked 12th on the FedEx Cup Rankings and earned $4,616,727 on the course.

The 27-year-old struggled throughout much of the 2024 season. Following the TOUR Championship, he did not make any starts and sat out the last few DP World Tour events. Reports suggest that the Norwegian golfer is sidelined by an undisclosed injury. Fans expect a full return to play in 2025, in time for the prestigious Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in September.

Here's a look at his finishes this season (via PGA Tour):

• The Sentry - T22 (21 under par)
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - T58 (3 under par)
• Genesis Invitational - T19 (6 under par)
• Arnold Palmer Invitational - T36 (2 over par)
• Players Championship - T62 (1 under par)
• Masters Tournament - CUT (8 over par)
• Wells Fargo Championship - T24 (1 over par)
• PGA Championship - 3rd place (18 under par)
• Memorial Tournament - T15 (2 over par)
• US Open - CUT (6 over par)
• Travelers Championship - T20 (13 under par)
• Genesis Scottish Open - T46 (7 under par)
• Open Championship - CUT (10 over par)
• FedEx St. Jude Championship - T2 (15 under par)
• BMW Championship - T26 (2 under par)
• TOUR Championship - T12 (15 under par)