Twenty-five year old Norwegian Victor Hovland broke the course record today at Olympia Fields, Chicago, by one stroke in shooting a 9-under par 61 to win the BMW Championship by two strokes over Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick with a total of 17-under par 263. It was his second PGA Tour win this year, and it vaulted him into second place in FedEx Cup standings. Victor said it was the best round of his career as he scorched the back nine with seven birdies and two pars to card a 28.
Scheffler took the lead early on the back nine with birdies on the 12th and 13th holes. But by the middle of that distance, Scheffler was still leading by one stroke over Hovland or they were tied for the lead. Hovland birdied the tough 17th and 18th holes with superb iron play to the greens, whereas Scheffler uncharacteristically three-putted the 17th hole to fall back.
Hovland has been playing great golf this year on the PGA Tour. But he has been faltering on the weekends sometimes to keep from winning even more tournaments.
Next week will be the final tournament of this FedExCup Playoff series, and it will consist of the thirty best players this year on the PGA Tour. To be staged as Eastlake in Atlanta, Georgia, it will bring the 2023 season to its climax, with the Ryder Cup on the horizon.
Sam Burns shot a 71 to finish tied for 15th. It is now questionable if that was good enough for him to make the U.S. team for the Ryder Cup. After he tied the course record with a 62 yesterday, he was asked by the media about his chances of making the Ryder Cup. He said, “I know the Lord has already planned it out.” But he added that he would be comfortable with whatever the outcome would be.
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