Palm Harbor, Florida – It was a battle of the comeback story this week as Viktor Hovland picks up his first win since 2023 as the 2025 Valspar Champion. Hovland outlasted Justin Thomas, who also hasn’t won since 2022 and will have to wait yet another week to complete his resurgence in the golf world.
As the Florida swing of the PGA Tour continued this week, we saw some great golf being played just after The Players. Multiple Major Champion Xander Schauffele had a decent showing this week highlighted by a second round 68 and finishing in a tie for 12th. Rookie PGA Tour star Neal Shipley made headlines after his second round determined the fate of quite a few golfers making the cut this week. He capped off his made cut with a final round 70 and a tie for 47th place. Still fresh off their injury recoveries both Will Zalatoris and Jordan Spieth had respectable weeks, finishing in ties for 47th and tied for 28th, respectively.
Runner up Justin Thomas had a heartbreaking end to his week by bogeying two of his final three holes. However, his recent regained form this season gave himself another chance to win and while he came up short, his second place finish is a big confidence booster as we head to the season’s first major in Georgia.
Coming down the stretch on Sunday, it was all down to Justin Thomas and Viktor Hovland. The aptly named snake pit bit Thomas in his final round as he bogeyed 16, made par at 17 and bogeyed 18. Hovland however birdied both 16 and 17 to take a late afternoon lead and never let it go. Thomas wasn’t able to keep the wheels on the track to stay with Hovland who put together a spectacular round to win his first tournament in over two years. Hovland’s final round saw six birdies to just two bogeys for a 67. This is Hovland’s seventh PGA Tour win and with it comes $1.65 million.
Next week, the PGA Tour heads to Texas for the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.
Victor Hovland’s What’s In The Bag:
Driver: Ping G425 LST 9° (Fujikura Speeder 661 TR X)
3 Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 15° (Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X)
Utility: Titleist U505 (3) (Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid 85 X)
Irons: Ping i210 (4-PW) (KBS Tour-V 120 X (4-PW))
Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 (50° SS, 56° SS), Ping Glide 2.0 (60° TS) / KBS Tour-V 120 X (50-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Ping PLD DS 72 prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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