CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) 鈥� Viktor Hovland got all the validation he needed Monday that his game was on track again, and a whole lot more.
He beat Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the Travelers Championship, had both parents from Norway watch him win for the first time and even did the 鈥渞ow鈥� with the Norwegian soccer fans who cheered him all the way to the surprising end.
Hovland capped off a gritty rally when on the first playoff hole and won the Travelers when Scheffler missed a 4-foot birdie putt.
鈥淲inning in the playoff against Scottie 鈥� best player in the world 鈥� that was pretty satisfying,鈥� said Hovland, who won for the first time since the .
The surprise was Scheffler going from a big advantage 鈥� an 8-iron to 4 feet on the 18th on the first playoff hole 鈥� to missing a hard-sliding putt on the high side that made Hovland a winner.
鈥淢aybe I hit it a little firmer than I intended to,鈥� said Scheffler, whose putt caught the left edge and rolled out some 7 feet by the hole. 鈥淚t looked like it got pretty far by the hole and I was playing it outside the hole, so I hit it down my line, just maybe the speed was a touch off.鈥�
It was a big disappointment for Scheffler, who made Monday possible by .
He was first to hit from the 18th fairway and some 3,000 fans on the hillside around the green erupted in cheers. Hovland responded, just like the 28-year-old Norwegian had done on the back nine Sunday when he rallied from a two-shot deficit.
Hovland’s birdie putt was snapping off to the right when it curled in the right side and he let out a big fist pump.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those putts that if I make mine, his gets significantly tougher, and if I miss, he probably will make his,鈥� Hovland said. 鈥淵eah, it was definitely no gimmies there, so to put the pressure on him was awesome.鈥�
It was the first Monday finish on the PGA Tour since The Players Championship in 2025, which involved a three-hole aggregate playoff won by Rory McIlroy. This turned out to be one hole and 15 minutes, but it did not lack for drama, or atmosphere.
There was lively banter for the playoff. A group of Norwegian fans, who had been in Boston for the World Cup, wore their soccer jerseys and chanted, 鈥淗ov-land!鈥� as he approached his golf ball in the fairway. The Americans began the 鈥淪cot-tie Scheff-ler!鈥� chants to drown them out.
The Norwegians also brought and subway stations and wherever they go. They sit shoulder to shoulder, arms out and then forcefully pull them in. Hovland had never seen it in person until Saturday.
When it was over, he sat with his people and they showed him how it’s done.
鈥淵ou definitely get adrenaline from it,鈥� he said.
Hovland had plenty of that Sunday afternoon when he returned from a 90-minute rain delay and made three straight birdies to catch up to Scheffler and eventually get into the playoff. He closed with a 69, while Scheffler had a 68. They finished at 21-under 259.
Hovland is rarely satisfied with a swing that has given him a reputation for making solid contact. He felt it gaining momentum with a third-place finish in Canada, and even in the U.S. Open despite missing the cut. There was always one bad swing that allowed doubts to creep in.
Those were gone at the TPC River Highlands, particularly at the end. He was first to hit in the playoff and drilled it down the middle, just as he had done all week.
鈥淚鈥檝e been playing golf with Viktor for a long time. We鈥檝e had some good battles in college and out here as a pro,” Scheffler said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a guy that has a lot of talent and works really hard. So those are the types of guys you like to see have success.鈥�
For Scheffler, it was his fourth runner-up finish this year after opening his season with a in the California desert. But he felt a little momentum, even in a playoff loss, as he gets ready a three-week stretch that includes the British Open, the final major of the year.
鈥淏all striking is definitely in a good spot. That was some of the best I hit it all season,鈥� Scheffler said. 鈥淥bviously I think just a little disappointed with the results of today. But, yeah, I did a good job of keeping myself in the tournament last night, made the nice putt to close out last night, and so trying to remember that one.鈥�
Hovland headed home for Norway with his parents. As for his throng of flag-waving, rowing supporters? on Tuesday in Dallas, the hometown of Scheffler.
鈥淭hat was probably more coincidental,鈥� Hovland said with a laugh. 鈥淭hat should be a good game.鈥�
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