Phil Mickelson has claimed that one golfer is on the verge of greatness following their performance at the PGA Championship over the weekend, while he also lauded Bryson DeChambeau.
Xander Schauffele emerged victorious in a spectacular PGA Championship at Valhalla, setting a new record for the lowest score to par in a major championship in Kentucky.
However, the tournament was full of interesting subplots; including Scottie Scheffler’s arrest on Friday, both Schauffele and Shane Lowry matching the major championship record with rounds of 62 during the week, and Bryson DeChambeau nearly forcing a play-off with one putt.
Viktor Hovland made a comeback by finishing third, despite a rough start to 2024.
Phil Mickelson lauds Viktor Hovland after PGA Championship.
Eddie Pepperell labelled Hovland an outsider to finish in the top five at Valhalla, which perhaps shows how far his stock had fallen in the months leading up to the event. Hovland had clearly been fighting to find something in his game.
But the 26-year-old reminded everyone of his quality, shooting three rounds of 66 to pile the pressure on Schauffele on the final day. Like DeChambeau, Hovland had a putt on the last to reach -20.
And it seems that Phil Mickelson was hugely impressed by the FedEx Cup champion’s display, as he took to X to laud Hovland, Schauffele and DeChambeau…
Praise for LIV target could be intriguing.
Mickelson singled out Hovland for praise despite the strong competition in the leaderboard, raising the possibility that Mickelson is trying to win favor.
In recent months, LIV Golf has made attempts to secure the signing of Hovland, and it would not come as a shock if he continues to be a key target for the Saudi tour.
Brooks Koepka enjoyed the opportunity to begin anew on the LIV Golf Invitational when it seemed like his performance was decreasing on the PGA Tour, and they might wish that Hovland could be persuaded to take a similar path.
Certainly, Mickelson may have been truly amazed by Hovland, who was among the few in the top 10 at the PGA Championship who had not yet won a major.
