Hovland clinches second PGA Tour title

Viktor Hovland rolled in a ten-foot birdie putt at the last to claim his second PGA Tour title of the year at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico. The man from Norway edged out American Aaron Wise who had set a testing clubhouse target after he shot an eight-under closing round of 63.

Hovland, however, was up to the task finding the birdie three he needed at the 18th hole to card a six-under 65 and a winning total of twenty-under-par. The twenty-three-year-old Norwegian added the Mayakoba Golf Classic to the Puerto Rica Open title he won back in February.
Overnight leader Emiliano Grillo found it tough going on Sunday and soon dropped back leaving Hovland as the man to beat following his four birdies in the first six holes. Hovland raced to the turn in 32 but faltered with a birdie at the 12th hole before bouncing back with back to back birdies.
The main challenge came from Wise who went one better than Hovland on the front nine following three birdies and an eagle at the par five  7th hole. A run of three consecutive birdies starting at the 13th hole propelled the South African born American to the top of the leaderboard.
Wise could not find another birdie in his closing three holes but made his way to the practice ground following his round as a play-off looked on the cards. Hovland had other ideas and showing great composure over the closing holes.

"When I was standing on the 18th tee I knew I had to make a birdie to win and I told myself I was able to do it in Puerto Rico, hopefully I can do it today," said Hovland.
Hovland had scrambled par at the 16th hole and following a par at the 17th he found the semi-rough off the tee at the last. However, the Norwegian hit his 148 yard second shot to ten feet and then cooly found the centre of the cup with his birdie putt for the win.
Adam Long of America also had a run at the title when he made his fourth birdie in six holes at the 16th hole to move to eighteen under. However, his challenge evaporated almost immediately when he bogeyed the next hole.

Long would finish in a tie for the third on seventeen-under alongside fellow countryman Tom Hoge who also was in the hunt until a slip at the 16th hole.
Harris English, Lucas Glover and Billy Horschel shared the fifth spot on sixteen-under a shot ahead of a group of four on fourteen-under that included a disappointed overnight leader Emiliano Grillo and world number eighteen Tony Finau.