Viktor Hovland wins 2023 FedEx Cup PGA TOUR Championship

There certainly were several moments of anxiety down the stretch on Sunday for former Oklahoma State star Viktor Hovland, but he prevailed victorious at the 2023 TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club just outside Atlanta, Georgia. The huge win not only gave Hovland the TOUR Championship, but he also brought home the 2023 FedEx Cup–the season-long points race on the PGA Tour. Hovland finished at 27-under to bring home one of the most coveted prizes in all of golf.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Norwegian became just the 5th player to win both of the final two events of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. At just 25 years old, he became the youngest golfer to ever do it. He found his best stuff when he needed it the most, shooting a 61 on Sunday of the BMW Championship to win that tournament. He also shot a 63 on Sunday of the TOUR Championship. Those rounds were the lowest of his PGA Tour career thus far.

Not only is it the biggest win of his career, but it’s by far the biggest paycheck at $18 million. That’s the same prize money as the entire prize purse for the 2023 Masters. Hovland held off the Top 30 players on the PGA Tour this season at East Lake, one of the nicest courses they play each season.

Xander Schauffele certainly made things interesting on Sunday, but finished five strokes short of Hovland for second place at 22-under. The former Oklahoma State star pretty much locked up the victory after draining a birdie on the 16th hole, which stretched his lead to four strokes with two holes remaining. Hovland was at 25-under after 16 holes and Schauffele sat at 21-under after 16. He poured it on even more, draining another birdie on the 17th hole, pushing his score to an impressive 26-under.

It’s been an impressive season for Hovland and he’s a very deserving champion of the FedEx Cup. He came from behind to win the 2023 BMW Championship–a key tournament in the 2023 FedEx Cup Playoffs. The former OSU standout set the course record in that one with a 61 on Sunday–draining nine birdies, including shooting a 28 on the back nine. He also won three times during the 2023 season, including The Memorial Tournament in a playoff over former UVA star Denny McCarthy.

He entered the TOUR Championship in second place in the FedEx Cup standings, behind Scottie Scheffler. Hovland entered the final stage of the FedEx Cup playoffs at 8-under. He finished with a total score of 19-under through 72 holes (68–Round 1, 64–Round 2, 66–Round 3, 63–Round 4) in the TOUR Championship, tying Xander Schauffele.

Hovland was impressive in the majors in the 2023 campaign, finishing in a tie for second at the PGA Championship and tying for seventh at The Masters. He capped off a spectacular season in which he made 22 of 22 cuts.

The Norwegian star ended with 18 Top 25 finishes and nine Top 10 finishes. Before Sunday’s huge win, he’d already reeled in over $14 million, so the Tour Championship victory pushed him to over $32 million in total earnings. Even after taxes, that’s an unbelievable year.

He’s one of the game’s bright, young stars and he earned plenty of prestige and money this weekend. On top of that, he won peace of mind. The FedEx Cup Champion earns a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour.