A missed three-foot putt costs Sergio Garcia a spot in the Open Championship. Plus: Hovland’s big win, TGL’s championship, and never whack a sprinkler head.
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ViktorHovlandisinfineformafterwinningonceagain.(DouglasP.DeFelice/GettyImages)DouglasP.DeFeliceviaGettyImagesWelcometotheMondayLeaderboard,wherewerundowntheweekend’stopstoriesinthewonderfulworldofgolf.GrabanArnoldPalmer,pullupachairandtrynottothinkabouthowclosethedistanceisbetweenecstasyandagony…
1.ViktorHovlandwinsagainatlast;JTleftheartbrokenGolfisacruelandstrangegame.ViktorHovlandhadmissedthecutinhislastthreeevents.Hehadn’twonsincetheTourChampionshipwaybackin2023.AndyetherehewasonSundayattheValsparChampionship,mountingathree-birdies-in-four-holeschargeinthefinalminutesofthetournamenttowinbyasinglestroke.
“Ihitalotofdisgustingshots,”Hovlandsaidafterward,“buttheyjusthappenedtogowhereIlook.”HisworldrankingfellfromNo.4allthewaydowntoNo.19,butthisshouldprovideanicebounceback.
AttheotherendofthejoyspectrumstoodJustinThomas