Viktor Hovland Rallies Late to Win Topsy-Turvy 2025 Valspar Championship

Viktor Hovland had missed three straight cuts before heading into Palm Harbor, Florida's 2025 Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort. He'll be flying out of town with his seventh PGA Tour victory Sunday night. 

The 27-year-old Norwegian shot 69-67 over the weekend for a one-shot victory over Justin Thomas, who finished Sunday's final round 66.

Hovland was three shots back at one point on his final nine and carded three birdies over his final five holes to overtake Thomas. 

"It's still kind of sinking in. It was just really cool," Hovland said on NBC. "I think when JT made a birdie there on 15 and he was three shots ahead, I still just felt really calm and I wasn't really stressing even though I knew I probably had to make my putt on 14. When that went in, I just felt really, really calm there. I just hit good shots, made some putts, it was awesome."

Hovland began the day tied for the lead and he watched Thomas surge ahead early in the day after barely making the cut on Friday.  Thomas got to 7-under after four birdies in a five-hole stretch but limped to the finish while missing fairway after fairway.

Thomas eventually carded two bogeys in his final three holes, opening the way for Hovland, whose back nine could not have been better.

Hovland birdied No. 14 before sticking his approach on No. 16 en route to another birdie. He drained a 12-footer while Thomas was bogeying No. 17 giving Hovland the solo lead for good.

This year's Valspar came with a chaotic start after three players exploded onto the scene and dominated the first two days. Patton Kizzire punted his putter across the No. 15 green after missing a short putt and later withdrew citing a back injury. 

Sahith Theegala also launched a club down the fairway after hitting a bad shot before saving par. But the best came from Adam Hadwin who destroyed a sprinkler head after a double bogey. The sprinkler then went off with Hadwin standing on top of it looking utterly defeated.

Adam Hadwin sprinkler smash 😤🏌️‍♂️ @jessicahadwin

pic.twitter.com/sAxGc2UWcE

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) March 22, 2025

Thomas finished in second at 10-under for the week with a 66 on Sunday. It's now been since the 2022 PGA Championship that Thomas last saw the winner's circle. Jacob Bridgeman finished third at 9-under.

Hovland last won in 2023 with three victories that season and had just two top-10 finishes this year before the Valspar Championship. Hovland was critical of his season and his game after Friday's round.

"It's pretty frustrating, and you start thinking things you've never thought before," he said Friday. "And this game becomes infinitely more challenging, and it's already really challenging ... "I am hard on myself, yeah. But that's also why I'm good. If I wasn't hard on myself, I probably wouldn't be out here. And yeah, I know that even with terrible mechanics I can still get out here and shoot a couple of nice scores, but that can also lead to 80 shots at The Players because I just don't have control over what I'm doing."

I'd say his game found itself on Sunday.