Golf fans all say same thing as Viktor Hovland withdraws from Phoenix Open

PGA Tour star Viktor Hovland has withdrawn from this week's Phoenix Open as speculation mounts over whether he will join LIV Golf this season. 

Hovland gave a blunt two-word response to one reporter two weeks ago when the latest LIV Golf rumour was thrown his way. 

The 26-year-old is the reigning FedEx Cup champion on the PGA Tour and the current World No.4, so he is rightly one of the hottest tickets in town for those on LIV Golf.

Hovland has been linked with a move to LIV Golf ever since the Saudi-bankrolled circuit emerged on the scene in 2022. 

While LIV Golf did get their reported $600m man Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton for apparently 10 times less this season, our sources tell us LIV has been doing everything it can to lure another European Ryder Cup star away from the PGA Tour in Hovland. 

The six-time PGA Tour winner's decision to WD from this week's Phoenix Open only goes to add fuel to the fire where LIV Golf links are concerned.

Viktor Hovland WDs from Phoenix Open

The PGA Tour did not confirm the official reason for Hovland's withdrawal. 

But the majority of golf fans all rushed to social media to comment the same thing: 

However, Hovland is not off to LIV Golf.

At least according to Eurosport Norge commentator Marius Thorp, who confirmed Hovland has decided to withdraw from the WM Phoenix Open to work on his golf game and get some more advice from his new coach prior to next week's Genesis Invitational hosted by Tiger Woods. 

Hovland may have enjoyed his best season to date on the PGA Tour in 2023, but the Norwegian star has struggled for form so far in 2024 with a T22 at The Sentry in Hawaii followed by last week's T58 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. 

He is looking for answers, and fast, especially as he goes in search of landing his maiden major title at The Masters in April. 

#UPDATE — Following a T58 finish at Pebble, Viktor Hovland is taking the week off to sharpen his game before the Genesis Invitational, per @MariusThorp @TrackingHovland

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) February 5, 2024

See Thorp's tweet below:

Hovland has been replaced in the WM Phoenix Open by Victor Perez, who earned his card on the PGA Tour through the DP World Tour last season. 

Hovland to LIV?

— BGE (@ih8theLIRR) February 5, 2024

One golf fan joked Hovland's decison to pull out of the WM Phoenix Open was clearly a direct result of what his apparel sponsor was asking him to wear at famed TPC Scottsdale. 

The PGA Tour also confirmed recent DP World Tour winner Thorbjorn Olesen and Jorge Campillo have both withdrawn from the Phoenix Open. 

This week's Phoenix Open is headlined by another stellar cast of players on the PGA Tour including World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. 

Wyndham Clark was handed the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday night following a final-round washout due to bad weather, and after etching his name on a third PGA Tour trophy he explained the main reasons why he chose to decline a last-minute offer from LIV Golf. 

What do you make of Hovland's WD from the Phoenix Open this week? Is he really working on his game or is there more to it? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.

Take me to more golf news!