Tag: Oak Tree National Pro-Scratch Invitational

Viktor Hovland continues winning ways at Oak Tree National Pro Scratch Invitational

Asked by Golf Oklahoma’s Ken MacLeod where this one ranks, Hovland joked, “Way up there.”

Musician Jerry Reed wrote the song “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,” back in 1971, a good 26 years before Viktor Hovland was born, but he might as well have had the Norwegian golfer in mind.

Hovland’s heater continued this week as he and fellow former Oklahoma State golfer Ian Davis combined to win the 2023 Oak Tree National Pro Scratch Invitational in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Hovland and Davis needed to go two extra holes on Friday at Oak Tree National to win the 36-hole two-man team event over Hovland’s former Cowboy teammate and roommate Zach Bauchou and amateur Conrad Walcher.

Hovland, 26, extended his win streak to four straight – the BMW Championship and Tour Championship in August, the Ryder Cup as a member of Team Europe, which concluded earlier this month, and thanks to Davis holing a 15-foot curling birdie putt at the ninth hole in Friday’s playoff, he just keeps winning. Hovland, who has banked $33.5 million including the FedEx Cup this season, earned a whopping $12,500 for the first prize in his home state.

Asked by Golf Oklahoma’s Ken MacLeod where this one ranks, Hovland joked, “Way up there.”

Hovland and Davis shot 2-under 69 on Thursday to trail by three but carded four birdies on the front nine in strong winds and chilly conditions on Friday (Hovland bundled up in a Ryder Cup beanie) and tacked on two birdies on the back nine to shoot 65, the low round of the tournament.

Robert Streb and amateur Danny Mitchell finished third while first-round leaders Taylor Moore and Trevor Stafford took fourth at 6-under (66-70) at Oak Tree National, which is scheduled to host the U.S. Senior Open.

Hovland announced he’ll be playing in the DP Tour World Championship in Dubai (Nov. 16-19) with $3 million awarded to the winner and his final start is expected to be at the Hero World Challenge, which begins Nov. 30. The two-time defending champion of the event held in the Bahamas? None other than Hovland.

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Viktor Hovland headlines a stacked field playing for $30,000 in the Oak Tree National Pro-Scratch Invitational

The tournament is not open to the public and really ought to be seeking a TV or streaming partner.

The PGA Tour has a rare off-week on the schedule next week, which means the best golf on the planet might be happening Oct. 26-27 in Edmond, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City, at the Oak Tree National Pro-Scratch Invitational, where the purse is all of $30,000.

But where else can you see world No. 4 Viktor Hovland, who banked $18 million as FedEx Cup champion, play in a two-day competition for a first prize of $12,500?

The former Oklahoma State golfer, who still calls Stillwater home, will make his first appearance since the Ryder Cup at the Pete Dye layout and team with former Oklahoma State golfer Ian Davis, the 2022 Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur Champion.

Hovland, who won the Memorial, BMW Championship and Tour Championship this season, is an Oak Tree National member, and according to Golf Oklahoma, his trophies from those three victories are currently on display in the OTN clubhouse. He and his partner better bring their ‘A game’ because they will be facing a stacked field that includes fellow PGA Tour members Taylor Moore, Austin Eckroat, Max McGreevy, Robert Streb and Sam Stevens, as well as 2024 PGA Tour rookies Kevin Dougherty, Chris Gotterup and Scott Gutschewski.

There will be LIV Golf players, too, including former Cowboys Charles Howell III, Peter Uihlein and Matthew Wolff. There will be one noticeable absence: member Talor Gooch, who last week won LIV Season long points race cashing an $18 million bonus check and has won this event three times previously, is unable to play due to a prior commitment.

Quade Cummins, Logan McAllister, Josh Creel, Rhein Gibson, Tom Whitney and Michael Gellerman are representing the Korn Ferry Tour. Several other pros with Oklahoma ties and who are working their way up the pro ranks are expected to play as well: Zach Bauchou, Jonathan Brightwell, Blaine Hale, Matt Mabry, Tyson Reeder, Charlie Saxon and Jared Strathe.

Ryan Munson, who is serving as unofficial tournament chairman and helped assemble the field, told Golf Oklahoma it was “by far the best field” in the history of the event dating to 2010.

The tournament is not open to the public and really ought to be seeking a TV or streaming partner. Paging the Golf Channel!