WATCH: Viktor Hovland wins his single-hole, fourth career ace, at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Viktor Hovland sent the crowd at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational into a frenzy with a 7th par-3 ace in the second-round action on Friday. Hitting six in a row to start the day, the Norwegian entered the top 20 with a thrilling hole-in-one.
Hovland’s serve from 183 yards just broke the green bunker that protects the front of the putting surface. Making his first big bounce, Hovland’s ball fell to the bottom of the cup to beat his fourth career on the PGA Tour and third in less than a year; he scored the trump card at both the 2022 BMW Championship and the 2022 Players Championship.
Hovland was three under and six behind club leader Kurt Kitayama at the time of the trump card. The world number 11 started his week in a similar fashion on Thursday when he hit the eagle from semi-rough on the first hole of the tournament. He stepped on the water, but perhaps this one-shot hit will kick off a march to the top of the leaderboards.
Hovland memorably finished second to Scottie Scheffler in the tournament a season ago. Taking the lead at the end of the tournament, Hovland went through a number of struggles both on and around the green before being overtaken by the defending champion. Intent on revenge, the 25-year-old will need more iron shots like the one on the par-3 7th hole if he wants to win his first professional title in the continental United States.
