Hovland’s late surge secures Valspar Championship victory

Round four leaderboard for the Valspar Championship

-11 V Hovland (Nor), -10 J Thomas (US), -9 J Bridgman, -8 B Cauley (US), B Horschel (US), R Hisatsune (Jpn), -7 D Riley (US)

S Lowry (Ire), 6 T Fleetwood (Eng), and -6 S Power (Ire).

In his final five holes, Viktor Hovland beat Justin Thomas by three birdies to win the Sunday Valspar Championship in Florida.

The Norwegian won a shot at four-under-par 67 to defeat American Thomas by one shot and claim a seventh PGA Tour title after missing the cut in his previous three matches.

Thomas appeared to be on the right path to victory after seven birdies in 15 holes, but bogeys at 16 and 18 caused him to fall two shots clear of Hovland, who could even afford a bogey at 18.

Hovland, 27, has won his first PGA Tour title since the Atlanta 2023 Championship.

He claimed that “it’s still kind of sinking in.” When JT hit a birdie on 15, he was three shots clear, and I still felt incredibly calm and unconcerned.

I made some putts and hit some good shots, which was fantastic.

At the halfway point, American Jacob Bridgeman, who was in charge of the tournament, carded a final-round 69 to move one shot further back in third.