So, I’ve been digging into this golfer, Viktor Hovland, and his time at Oklahoma State University. Man, what a story!
It all started back when Viktor was just a kid in Norway. His dad, Harald, had picked up golf while working as an engineer in St. Louis. He brought the game back home and taught Viktor to play when he was only 11. Imagine that, an 11-year-old learning golf in Norway! Viktor spent most of his time practicing at an indoor driving range. I guess when it’s cold outside, you gotta get creative, right?
Fast forward a few years, and Viktor was looking at colleges. Now, here’s a fun bit – he almost ended up at the University of Tulsa. Can you believe it? But, for some reason, he decided to go with Oklahoma State instead. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was the orange, who knows?
One of the big reasons he chose Oklahoma State was Rickie Fowler. Yeah, that Rickie Fowler. Viktor saw how well Fowler did there, both on the course and in his career, and he thought, “I want some of that.” I mean, who wouldn’t? Fowler’s a legend.
From 2016 to 2019, Viktor was playing college golf at Oklahoma State, and he was good. Really good. He even won the 2018 U.S. Amateur. That’s a huge deal! But, here’s the thing, even though he was killing it, he was kind of in the shadow of his teammate, Matthew Wolff. It’s like, you can be amazing, but there’s always someone else right there with you, pushing you to be better.
While he hasn’t won any majors yet, he did come really close at the 2023 PGA Championship. He tied for second, just two strokes behind the winner. Two strokes! That’s gotta be both exciting and frustrating at the same time, right?
- Started young: Learned golf from his dad at age 11 in Norway.
- College choice: Nearly went to Tulsa, but chose Oklahoma State, partly because of Rickie Fowler’s influence.
- Shined at OSU: Played there from 2016-2019, won the 2018 U.S. Amateur.
- Teammate rivalry: Was slightly overshadowed by Matthew Wolff.
- Major close call: Tied for second at the 2023 PGA Championship.
So, that’s Viktor Hovland’s Oklahoma State story, in a nutshell. It’s a story of a kid from Norway, a dad who loved golf, a big decision, and a whole lot of talent. And you know what? I think he’s just getting started.
