Viktor Hovland Blames New PGA Tour Rules For Busy 2023 Schedule

As part of the sweeping changes that the PGA Tour has enacted in response to LIV Golf, one that has drawn criticism on two occasions now is the requirement to play 20 events on the schedule.

Jon Rahm was one of the first critics of the PGA Tour’s new requirement for top players to play in 20 tournaments per year. In response, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan did say that exceptions could be made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Viktor Hovland (@viktor_hovland)

Now voicing his opinion is Viktor Hovland, who was the first Norwegian to ever play in the Ryder Cup in 2021 and is expected to in 2023 as well. For the 25-year-old, that means anywhere from 23-25 weekends on the golf course next year because of requirements on the DP World Tour to be eligible for the European team.

Prior to this week’s Hero World Challenge, Hovland said:

“So with the schedule being as dense as it is, you know, it’s going to be tough to play all those events. I think in a singular year you can make that work easy, but I hope the future of my career is not going to be scheduled in that way where I’m basically forced to play 23, 24 events or 25 events a year.”

Hovland, who was part of a reported meeting with PGA Tour pros and the duo of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in the Bahamas this week, said he sees the PGA Tour’s stance, but the amount of travel he has to do to take part in events will make things difficult.

Hovland added:

“Obviously we want the PGA Tour to become a better product and there’s going to have to be some give and take. I’m open to give a little bit of the freedom of picking a schedule to create a better product, but at the same time I don’t want to give up that freedom if that means that — you know, if it’s not worth it, essentially.”

VIKTOR HOVLAND PLAYS GOLF THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!
Viktor is paired with Collin Morikawa!!!!! Zurich Classic partner!

Electric pairing.
12:39pm EST on Thursday.

LETS DEFEND THIS TITLE!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/BippB8SFFX

— TRACKING HOVLAND (@TrackingHovland) November 28, 2022

At this week’s exclusive 20-man event, Hovland is paired with Collin Morikawa, the man who he came back from six strokes down last December to beat in this event.

Cover Image Via PGA TOUR