Not only did Viktor Hovland earn his second PGA Tour win on Sunday, he also put to rest a curse that’s been haunting the Tour for more than a decade.
Earlier this year in February, Hovland won the Puerto Rico Open, an event that’s put a burden of sorts on its winners over the years. Players who won the Puerto Rico Open never went on to win another tournament on Tour, with one exception: Michael Bradley, who won the Puerto Rico Open in 2009 and again in 2011.
Tony Finau won in 2016 and has yet to win since, losing in two playoffs along the way. Alex Cejka, 2015’s champion, has lost in one playoff, same with 2013 winner Scott Brown, whose playoff loss was with Kevin Kisner against Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2017.
Mayakoba Golf Classic: Leaderboard | Best photos
The W was within reach and he went after it.
He's the first player to birdie the 72nd to win @MayakobaGolf. pic.twitter.com/NGHjGK2xNd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 6, 2020
Whether you’re superstitious or just a little stitious like Michael Scott, Hovland’s win is good news for a handful of Tour pros. We’re not saying you’ll see Bradley, Brown, Cejka, Finau, Greg Kraft, Derek Lamely, George McNeill, Chesson Hadley, D.A. Points or Martin Trainer in the winner’s circle when the Tour returns in 2021, but don’t be so surprised if you do.
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