Viktor Hovland Parts Ways With Second Coach in 2023

Viktor Hovland is going solo with his golf swing after parting ways with yet another coach.

The world No. 8 confirmed he split from swing instructor Joe Mayo about a month ago, marking their second breakup in just a few months.

“We disagreed a bit about the way forward, what’s best for me,” Hovland told Norwegian outlet Norsk Golf. The 26-year-old star seems pretty confident about handling things on his own now.

“I feel like I’ve learned so much now and have so much expertise, that I don’t need anyone holding my hand anymore,” he said.

It’s been quite a journey for Hovland’s coaching situation. He started working with Mayo in 2023, split after winning the FedExCup in August, got back together before the PGA Championship, and now they’re done again. He’s also worked with Grant Waite and Dana Dahlquist this year, and says he’s currently sending videos to another coach for occasional feedback.

2024 wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for the Norwegian pro. For the first time since turning pro in 2019, he didn’t win a single tournament. He only played 17 events – way down from his usual schedule.

But here’s the thing: he still made it to East Lake for the Tour Championship and kept his spot among golf’s elite.

“It taught me that my game doesn’t have to be perfect,” Hovland reflected. “The coincidences make the game merciless, and then I would rather go home and practice.”

Now he’s dealing with not one, but two injuries as he considers playing in The Sentry this week. There’s a stress fracture in his right pinky finger that’s still healing, and – in a bizarre twist – he just fractured his toe in his Hawaii hotel room.

The toe incident? Pretty embarrassing actually. He fell asleep with his lights and travel clothes on, then stubbed his toe on the bed when he woke up to turn everything off. A quick trip to the ER confirmed the break, which could take up to six weeks to heal.

He’s been trying to practice barefoot to take pressure off the injury, and he’ll make the final call about playing on Thursday morning.

In typical Hovland style, he’s taking it all in stride: “It’s not ideal. But adversity builds character, and we all need a few punches in the face every now and then.”