Hovland & His Ten On The Richter Scale Shirt – “I Wanted To Stand Out”

3 years ago by Comments Off on Hovland & His Ten On The Richter Scale Shirt – “I Wanted To Stand Out”

In terms of bright shirts, it was close to 10 on the Richter Scale.

Not even John Daly’s ‘Loudmouth’ trousers could top Viktor Hovland’s shirt the young Norwegian golfing superstar wore on the opening day of the 87th Masters at Augusta National

The shirt looked a bit like a Jackson Pollock on drugs or one of those late Saturday night pizzas with all the toppings but most of all it was eye-catching, and Hovland wearing the shirt playing in the company of five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods, who wore a simple-looking white shirt.

Hovland’s shirt was refreshing different from the norm or the stuffiness at a Masters so much so, it had the azaleas, the firethorns, the pink dogwoods and even the flowering crab apples blushing as he made his way around the golfing cathedral among the pines.

Better still for Hovland he let his shirt do the talking in moving into the lead at seven-under-par before being joined by Spaniard Jon Rahm, who four-putted the opening hole and then played his next 17 holes in nine-under to match Hovland’s 65 late on the opening day.

 

 

It took a while for the assembled media to jump on Hovland’s shirt and when the current World No. 9 explained that the shirt was not his decision.

“I had nothing to do with it (laughter)”, he said.  “I just wear what they tell me to wear.

“No, I mean, it’s definitely a little bit out there, but I think I’d rather take these than the pink pants I had last year. So we’re making progress”.

Q. Just wanted to stand out a little bit?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I guess.

The 25-year-old Norwegian is contesting his fourth Masters with his best finish being a T21s in 2021.

Whether it was the shirt or a share of third in the recent Players Championship however it is a welcome return to the form for Hovland that saw him capture the Woods hosted Hero World Challenge last December in The Bahamas.

“I would have taken that,” Hovland responded when asked if he would have taken a 65 in waking-up this morning.

“That’s pretty fun. You know, as I said, my game’s been feeling good. But to shoot a 65 bogey-free out here, some things have to go your way. It’s not like you can just step up and have that handed to you.

“So I definitely had some things go my way today but also hit a lot of great shots”.

Now a big question ahead of the second round when waking-up on Friday morning will Hovland go for a shirt that could top Thursday’s stunner?



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