Viktor Hovland celebrated with Norway’s jubilant World Cup fans after beating Scottie Scheffler in a Monday morning playoff to win the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Hovland capped off his gritty rally with a seven-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, and his victory was sealed when world No 1 Scheffler missed a four-foot birdie putt of his own.
After the victory, which marked the first time Hovland’s mother had seen him win in person, the golf star performed the viral ‘rowing’ celebration with Norway’s fans alongside the 18th green.
He then posed for photos with the trophy, with his win sealing a huge $3.6 million windfall for the 28-year-old.
Scheffler had to make an eight-foot par in near darkness Sunday night to force the playoff, but could not complete the win.
They returned for one hole, which did not lack for drama or atmosphere. Both found the middle of the fairway on the par-4 18th. Scheffler hit his approach to four feet as some 3,000 fans surrounding the green erupted in cheers.
Viktor Hovland performs the viral ‘rowing’ celebration with Norwegian World Cup fans
Hovland was supported by Norway’s fans, who had made a quick stop-off at River Highlands
The victory sealed the 28-year-old a huge prize of $3.6 million on Monday morning
Hovland responded, just as he did on the back nine Sunday when he made up a two-shot deficit, hitting his approach to six feet. His birdie putt downhill with a sharp left-to-right break barely caught the inside right of the cup.
Scheffler played his outside the left edge, with a little too much pace and it rolled over the left edge.
Hovland won for the 10th time worldwide, and eighth on the PGA Tour. His last victory was in the Valspar Championship in March 2025.
For Scheffler, it was his fourth runner-up finish this year after opening his season with a victory at The American Express in the California desert.
There was lively banter for the playoff. A group of Norwegian fans, who had been in Boston for the World Cup, wore their soccer jerseys and chanted, ‘Hov-land!’ as he approached his golf ball in the fairway.
Scottie Scheffler (left) reacts after missing a four-foot birdie putt to force another playoff hole
Scheffler, who remains world No 1, missed out on the victory against Hovland on Monday
The Americans began the ‘Scot-tie Scheff-ler!’ chants to drown them out, creating a wild atmosphere between the fans who had made it to watch the playoff.
There was partisan cheering a year ago during a Ryder Cup where US captain Keegan Bradley rallied on the final hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood of England.
Norway next plays a World Cup match in Dallas, the hometown of Scheffler.
