Viktor Hovland Surprised by Unconventional Tee Shot Decision at The Open

What happened?

Viktor Hovland finished the opening round at level par after making three birdies and three bogeys at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on 18 Jul 2026. The Norwegian golfer was somewhat baffled by some players' decision to take a three wood off the 13th tee, which he found "strange" given the numerous bunkers on the hole.

Why it matters for Viktor Hovland

Hovland's comments highlight the importance of strategy in links golf, where the weather can greatly impact the course conditions. The 28-year-old admitted that he had not been able to use the driver as often as he had planned, opting instead to play a more cautious approach to avoid the bunkers.

What comes next?

Hovland's start at The Open Championship has given him a chance of winning a first major title. With strategy playing a crucial role in the next three days, Hovland will need to adapt to the fast and fiery conditions at Royal Birkdale. The Norwegian golfer has shown his ability to perform well in major tournaments, finishing outside the top 13 in his first three starts at The Open Championship.

As Hovland navigated the challenging links course, he found himself questioning the decision of some players to take a three wood off the 13th tee. "I find that one kind of strange," he said. "Obviously that takes the left hazard out of play, but there's so many bunkers there. I just don't really see that one."

Hovland's own approach to the 13th hole was more cautious, opting to hit a three iron from the tee. However, he still managed to find himself in the rough, slicing his shot into the right stuff. "I think that's kind of the play," he said. "It depends on the wind direction. But if it's straight downwind maybe it's just driver and send it, or three wood. I have a hard time seeing that one, to be honest."

Hovland's past performances at The Open Championship

Hovland has shown his ability to perform well in major tournaments, finishing outside the top 13 in his first three starts at The Open Championship. His best finish came at St Andrews in 2022, where he led the tournament going into the final day. However, his last two events have been more of a struggle, with the 28-year-old missing the cut at Royal Troon in 2024.

The fast and fiery conditions at Royal Birkdale have made it difficult for Hovland to use the driver as often as he had planned. "Yeah, I'd say I probably anticipated hitting more drivers," he said. "That's what I did more in the practice rounds. But I think in tournament conditions, it's just a little bit easier to fall back and try to play a little bit short of a lot of these bunkers because you can hit driver a few more places and be okay, but you'd like to kind of take some of that luck element out of it if you feel like you're hitting it pretty nice."

Conclusion

Hovland's comments highlight the importance of strategy in links golf, where the weather can greatly impact the course conditions. With strategy playing a crucial role in the next three days, Hovland will need to adapt to the fast and fiery conditions at Royal Birkdale. The Norwegian golfer has shown his ability to perform well in major tournaments, and with a good strategy, he may be able to overcome the challenges of the course and make a strong push for the title.

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