Viktor Hovland is the new Traveler’s Championship champion after humbling World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler thanks to a dramatic ‘side-door’ birdie putt at the extra play-off hole.
Both players had ended regulation play late on a very wet Sunday afternoon at 21-under par but with conditions darkening, it was agreed to return to the River Highlands host course at 9am this morning (US time) for the sudden-death play-off.
Each player put his approach shot close as Scheffler’s ball landed just four-feet from the hole while Hovland’s was nine feet away from the flag.
Hovland putted first, seeing his ball just managing to fall into the right side of the cup and showing his delight with a jubilant fist pump.
Scheffler, wearing a bright pink shirt, stepped-up but was interrupted by crowd noise. He regrouped, knowing he also needed to make birdie to send the championship into a second extra hole.
However for third time in five PGA Tour career play-offs, Scheffler missed the hole handing the first prize to the champion Norwegian.
BRAVO VIKTOR ..
As Viktor Hovland @TrackingHovland brilliantly humbles @OWGRltd No. 1 @ScottieScheffle holing first hole birdie putt to capture @TravelersChamp
Getty
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/8xnfbPpwVg
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) June 29, 2026
Victory is Hovland’s 10th time worldwide and eighth on the PGA TOUR. His last victory was in the Valspar Championship in March 2025.
“I knew I had to bring my best to have a chance to beat, and he certainly brought it out of me,” Hovland said.
“On the winning putt, he added: “It was one of those putts where it felt like if I miss, he probably makes, so I knew I had to make mine.”
Hovland’s victory in the $20 million ‘Signature Series’ event earned him $3.6m while Scheffler pockets $2.16m,
Though for the crestfallen Scheffler, it was his fourth runner-up finish this year and also a second straight play-off loss of 2026 whereas he’s not won since a victory at The American Express in the California desert on the last Sunday in January.
There was lively banter for the playoff, and as we have seen all week, with a big group of Norwegian fans, who had been in Boston for the FIFA World Cup, again present wearing their red-and-blue Norgewian attire chanting, “Hov-land!”
Then there was the wonderful sight of the new Traveler’s champion joining his compatriots ahead of their ‘Viking rowing’ now five day support team.
WE’VE GOT A VICTORY ROW pic.twitter.com/BVwdZR1Qg0
— TravelersChamp (@TravelersChamp) June 29, 2026
