LIV Golf's 'top target' commits to $20,000,000 PGA Tour event
PGA Tour star and LIV Golf target Viktor Hovland has committed to the 2024 Travelers Championship, a week after the U.S. Open.
Tournament organisers of the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship have confirmed Viktor Hovland has committed to playing in the signature event.
Hovland enjoyed his best season to date last year that was highlighted by helping Europe win back the Ryder Cup in Rome in September after a flurry of victories.
But in truth he has been all at sea in 2024 after he sacked his long-time golf instructor Joe Mayo at the turn of the year.
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The Norwegian has said he has been frustrated with how PGA Tour officials handled the rollout of the peace deal with LIV Golf's financiers.
And he has also accused commissioner Jay Monahan of sweeping that mess under the rug.
His frustrations, along with his poor form, have invariably led to rumours that perhaps he has been distracted by a potential offer from the breakaway.
Odds have recently been slashed on Hovland joining LIV.
The guardian's Ewan Murray reported in April that Hovland was approached by Greg Norman during the week LIV played their fifth event of 2024 in Miami shortly before the Masters.
Norman has since claimed he met with a 'top PGA Tour player' in his house, giving the rumour a whiff of substance.
Hovland endured a thoroughly miserable excursion to Augusta National, missing the cut by two strokes after losing his head on the 15th hole during the second round.
In an epic meltdown, Hovland missed a putt from a matter of inches at the par-5 15th. After doing so, he stroppily lobbed his golf ball into the water.
It led to Hovland promptly withdrawing from the RBC Heritage a week later.
Hovland has not played since the Masters.
The Travelers will take place over 20-23 June, the week after the U.S. Open.
It will feature an inflated prize purse of $20,000,000 after the tournament was assigned signature status for the second year running.
Andy Bessette, Travelers' executive vice president, said in a statement: "Viktor is one of the promising young players we gave a sponsor's exemption to in 2019, and it hasn't taken him long to show why he deserved that opportunity."
He added: "He's made an impression with his play -- he's won on the PGA Tour each of the past four seasons -- but he's also one of the nicest, most down-to-earth people you'll ever meet.
"We're excited to watch him compete and be part of our world-class player field this year."
Hovland has played down any prospect that he could join LIV in the past.
But perhaps he is doing some thinking after Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were given a lifeline to compete in next year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
European Tour Group chief executive Guy Kinnings insisted Rahm and Hatton were not presented with a 'loophole'.
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