Viktor Hovland has been suffering from a neck injury since June, and his Ryder Cup was cut short because of it.
The injury forced Hovland to withdraw from the Travelers Championship and the Ryder Cup, but a few weeks on from New York, and he’s back in action at the DP World India Championship in New Delhi.
Hovland received criticism at the Ryder Cup for pulling out of the tournament, but captain Luke Donald said he was devastated to do so. And in a week where he could be resting, Hovland is back playing, which is a testament to his competitive drive.
But we all want to see the Norwegian healthy going into 2026. There’s no sense in risking next year’s PGA Tour season by making the injury worse in the fall. Hovland’s update after a phenomenal Saturday performance in India may settle some concerns on that front.
Viktor Hovland gives injury update weeks after Ryder Cup withdrawal
Hovland shot a six-under 66 to bring himself into contention at the India Championship. He made six birdies in his second bogey-free round of the tournament so far.
Delhi Golf Club is narrow, so players can’t hit their drivers off the tee and risk of finding their ball in the jungle. That has helped Hovland, who says his driver is what puts the most strain on his neck.
When asked how his injury was feeling, he explained: “It’s been good actually. Since I haven’t been hitting any drivers, it’s been holding up. Still taking painkillers and stuff to keep it going, but it feels quite nice.
“It’s not really been affecting the golf swing at all, so no excuses there.”
That’s great news for Hovland, who can overcome his personal disappointment at the Ryder Cup with a win in his comeback to action. And with the way he’s playing, he’s a strong contender on Sunday.
How Viktor Hovland has made only one bogey in three days at the India Championship
Hovland has been incredibly accurate and efficient in New Delhi. He’s navigated the jungle with ease, hitting every fairway on Friday and missing only three during his Saturday round.
He’s also made only one bogey over his first three rounds. He’s rarely out of position, meaning it just comes down to his putting as to whether he leaves a hole with a birdie or a par.
Scoring was generally low on Saturday, meaning Hovland is still five shots behind the leading Keita Nakajima. But he looks completely comfortable around the course, so a hot start to Sunday could see him up there with the leaders.
He explained how he was able to have so much success on his third round in New Delhi. Hovland said, “I think they used some of the hardest pin positions in the first couple of rounds, so maybe the pins are a hair easier.
“But the course is playing pretty similar. Maybe everyone is just getting used to the narrowness of the tee shots, and it doesn’t bother them as much.
“I hit every single fairway yesterday, and I missed only three today. Hitting it great off the tee, so it’s setting up a lot of nice looks into the greens with my irons, and I’m trying to make some putts.”
We’ll be keeping an eye of Hovland to see if he can claim his third win on the DP World Tour!
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