THE RYDER CUP

September 25, 2025

Viktor Hovland

Bethpage Black Course

Team Europe

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good morning, everyone. Viktor Hovland joins us now at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Viktor, welcome to your third Ryder Cup.

We'll go ahead and jump right into questions.

Q. There was a lovely clip on social media last night just before you went on the stage for Opening Ceremony where you said you just had your best range session in two years. How pleasing was that and what did you find?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, that was obviously really sweet. Timely that it came yesterday. Obviously this is a golf course that you have to drive it really well, and been kind of struggling with the driver, but it's been a long time since I've been able to stand on the range and just kind of beat balls fluidly, effortlessly without trying to feel like I'm steering it.

When I went to film it, as well, it looked a little bit different. It looked definitely better than other swings that I've made lately. So really pleased with that.

Hope the weather stays okay so I can continue that feel and see if it holds up. I think we've all been there; we find a feel and think we're back, and the next day it all falls apart. Kind of looking forward to try to test it out a little bit more today.

Q. About the swing, I saw a clip on Instagram the other day with you working with a GBox. What are you still working on with your swing?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I mean, kind of the main thing is that I get a little bit stuck in the downswing. So I've just been trying a lot of different training aids and stuff to maybe see if I get a feel that will get the arms and hands a little bit more out in transition. Because for me, I just pull it down a little bit, and for me with my pattern, that's really tough.

So I've just been trying to, yeah, see if that resurrected a feel of some sort. But I didn't really find that that was the missing piece for me.

Q. Also, yesterday Ludvig said that you like to talk about UFOs. What's up with that?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: What's up with that? Yeah, that's the question, isn't it; what is up with that? (Laughter).

Yeah, just something that I've been into the last couple years. I think I've always been extremely into my golf, and sometimes you just look at your golf swing and trying to practice hard and you don't really get the results that you want, it can be quite frustrating, and I think it's been one of those things that I've kind of taken my mind off of golf a little bit.

And then the more you go into it, you just get more questions. It's one of those things that you don't really find any more answers but it's very interesting to go in there and kind of challenge some of your beliefs that you currently hold, and you kind of have to expand your mind a little bit.

I think it's super fascinating because it touches on so many different topics, as well. I find it really interesting.

Q. You were saying something on the range yesterday - I'm just trying to understand it - where sometimes when you get tentative or it's hard to trust it on the golf course, your takeaway gets a little armsy maybe and you want to feel like you're extending and really whipping the club away. I'm just trying to understand that.

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I don't want to go too far deep into the golf swing, but the golf swing just seems to counterintuitive and almost paradoxical sometimes where I know if I look at my 3D data, like I rotate way faster and way more than I used to do when I first came out on tour.

Some of that is because I'm hitting it further. I've got more speed. I'm more dynamic. So then by that data, I've tried to almost slow down and not rotate as much off the ball. But then what I do is I just spin open.

It was almost a little counterintuitive yesterday where I felt almost more dynamic off the ball, but instead of spinning around, I was moving more up and back. So it almost kept me more centered and more still, and from there, I can actually use my body like I used to before and not get it stuck.

So yeah, this game, it's so fickle. You try to do something the opposite of what you're doing, but sometimes that's not the answer. So it's very elusive.

Q. You are generally one of the more popular players on tour. How do you prepare for fans that might be actively rooting against you this week?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I think you've just got to stick to your game, and if you play well, you know, there's going to be some comments here and there. They won't really come close to the thoughts that I have in my own head. So I think I'll just laugh it off for the most part.

You know, just try to smile it off and make a few birdies. That usually seems to do the trick.

Q. Can you put into words what Rory means to this team?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, how long we got? He's obviously a great player and very skilled, very experienced. But also he carries a lot of weight in the team room, as well. He's very comforting to have there. He makes everyone in the team room feel good. And I think he brings out the best in everyone in there.

So it's great to have a person like that in the team room for sure.

Q. What was your reaction two years ago when he did the microphone drop pretty much in Rome and said you guys were going to come out and win in Bethpage? What was the reaction to that?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Pretty pumped, yeah. Here we are. Let's do it.

Q. I'd love to see what it looks like for you to actually go deep into the golf swing after that explanation.

VIKTOR HOVLAND: (Chuckles).

Q. You were on the last two teams, one loss, one win. Talking about strategy and handling this experience, did you learn more from the loss on American soil or from the win over in Europe?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Hmmm, good question. I don't know which one I learnt more from, but it was very interesting from my own personal experience going through the loss at Whistling Straits. I felt like I was maybe more timid as a rookie playing on foreign soil.

I think I played just a bit more insecure maybe but after 2023, my best season of my career, I felt just more excitement, and obviously playing at home, I just felt ready to exhibit how I'd played throughout that year. And I wasn't as much nervous as -- in terms of messing up. It was more like, okay, I'm ready for this and I'm going to show what I'm good for.

I think now that I've kind of seen both perspectives, even though I've had some major struggles with my game the last couple years, I feel like despite that, I can still overcome that and play some really good golf. I do feel like being on both of those teams have really helped me. It is going to help me this week.

Q. I wouldn't expect you to give away the secrets of the captain, but I think that's three days in a row now you'll be paired alongside Robert MacIntyre in practice. If that happens to be a pairing over the first two days, give us an insight into the personality sets the two of you have got that you think will work.

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I've played a bunch with Bob over the past few years. We obviously came out at a similar time. We played some junior golf and amateur golf together. So get along great with Bob. He's obviously a great player and had an amazing year this year.

Yeah, I think we really vibe well off of each other, and we've had some good games here the last couple weeks. So yeah, it will be fun. We'll see what happens. But I think we'd make a good team.

Q. With the atrocious weather seemingly set in for the day, have you been told how that might affect practice today? Do you think you guys will get out on the course, and if not, how will you try and replicate it, and what will you do?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if they have closed the practice area or not. Hopefully I can practice for a little bit and maybe go out there and play four or five holes, at least. I'd like to kind of see how what I'm doing on the range will hold up on the golf course and just get a bit more comfortable. Hopefully it stays clear a little bit and also for the remainder of the week. You don't want the course to be too soggy, either. So we'll see.

Q. How will that affect things if you're not able to get on course the day before?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It's not ideal. But it wouldn't be the last time something like that has happened. I'd like to think I'm a professional and can handle situations like this. Yeah, we'll figure it out.

Q. How much do you pay attention to what position your opponent is in in match play, and how much does your strategy deviate, say, if they are out of position?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I think it definitely does matter. But on a golf course like this, probably less so. Because it's -- I mean, the fairways aren't super wide. They are not super narrow either but the rough is so thin that even if you spray a shot off the tee, you can't really go, okay, he's way out of position, let's just play conservative here. Because if you get lucky and have a nice lie, you can easily make birdie from out of position here.

So I think aggressiveness is probably going to be a good strategy. You still are just going to have execute and play like you're trying to birdie almost every hole, and then obviously if you miss, you're still in the hole. Because I don't think there will be too many holes compared to maybe Rome, for example. Rome had a lot of birdie holes, but at the same time it had a lot of difficult holes where you could easily win by par. I think it's going to be less of that this week.

So I think if you just stay prudent and just execute and kind of let the opponents maybe make a couple extra bogeys, then I think that's the way to go.

Q. Do you have a general philosophical stance on lift, clean and place?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I mean, I think it's the right thing to do if it gets super, you know, super wet out there and it's just mud ball on every hole. I don't think that's what the people want to see. I think it's maybe another discussion whether we are going to have a club length or a scorecard. Usually in Europe we have a scorecard. In the U.S. we have a club length. I think that can maybe influence how we play a little too much, especially around the greens and then in terms of angles and stuff.

But I think it is kind of necessary. If you're getting mud balls on every hole, I just don't think that's great TV.