Viktor Hovland Archives - SportsNewsIreland

2025 Masters Preview – Can McIlroy Complete the Grand Slam at Augusta?

JoeNa Connacht — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:16:17 +0000

2025 Masters Preview – Can McIlroy Complete the Grand Slam at Augusta?

The world’s best golfers have gathered once more in Georgia for The Masters, as the chase for the iconic Green Jacket and golfing immortality gets underway at Augusta National.Scottie Scheffler returns as defending champion following a commanding four-shot victory last year. The world number one is aiming to become the first back-to-back Masters winner since Tiger Woods and add a third major title to his résumé within four seasons.Hot on his heels is Rory McIlroy, fresh from victories at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship. McIlroy is bidding to complete the career Grand Slam and finally conquer the only major to elude him.

Contenders to Watch

Also in contention is Xander Schauffele, with two major wins last year and a strong Augusta record. Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Åberg arrive in good form, while Hideki Matsuyama, Russell Henley, and Viktor Hovland have all won on the PGA Tour in 2025.

Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry also bring consistency and experience as they chase their first majors.

McIlroy’s Grand Slam Bid

Golf legend Dame Laura Davies believes McIlroy’s time has come: “His form this year is great and it’s hard to see him not cross the finish line at Augusta.”

Butch Harmon added: “If he can relax and just play golf, this could be the week he gets over the hump.”

Morikawa’s Augusta Record

Morikawa has posted finishes of 5th, T-10th, and T-3rd in his last three Masters starts. Analysts highlight his current iron play as the best in the world—perfect for Augusta’s second-shot demands.

English Hopes at Augusta

Tommy Fleetwood is tipped for success if he can putt well, while Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Justin Rose also aim to end England’s Masters drought.

Former pro Ewen Murray believes Hatton could surprise: “If he can stay mentally calm, he absolutely has the tools to challenge.”

Expert Predictions

Rich Beem: Winner – Rory McIlroy | Dark Horse – Brian Harman
Andrew Coltart: Winner – Collin Morikawa | Dark Horse – Russell Henley
Dame Laura Davies: Winner – Rory McIlroy | Dark Horse – Akshay Bhatia
Nick Dougherty: Winner – Collin Morikawa | Dark Horse – Tommy Fleetwood
Butch Harmon: Winner – Rory McIlroy | Dark Horse – Tommy Fleetwood

The post 2025 Masters Preview – Can McIlroy Complete the Grand Slam at Augusta? appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Viktor Hovland wins Dubai Desert Classic

JoeNa Connacht — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 22:26:10 +0000

Viktor Hovland won his first Rolex Series title as he completed a sensational finish with a play-off victory over Richard Bland at the 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

The Norwegian was barely in the picture when he missed a short putt and made a bogey on the 15th but he finished birdie-eagle-birdie to sign for a 66 and post the target at 12 under.

Bland joined him in the clubhouse with a birdie-birdie finish of his own in a 68, with two-time champion Rory McIlroy finding water on the last to fall out of the play-off.

Hovland made a two-putt birdie on the first trip back up the 18th and when Bland failed to get up and down after finding a tricky lie with his second, it was the 24-year-old who was left holding the Dallah trophy at Emirates Golf Club.

Rory McIlroy cards 71 on final day

Rory McIlroy signed for a 71 to finish at 11 under, three shots clear of South African pair Justin Harding and Erik van Rooyen, English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Sam Horsfield and Pole Adrian Meronk.

Hovland becomes the first Norwegian to win a Rolex Series event. He adds this title to his maiden DP World Tour victory at the 2021 BMW International Open.

“This is pretty wild,” admitted Hovland. “I didn’t really think this was possible going in today. I knew I had to shoot a really low number but a lot of things had to go my way and thankful that it did.

“I was fuming after the three-putt on 15 and thought that was it. I knew I just had to try to finish off well and get a nice position for the week. I rolled a really long one on 16, and then on 17, and hey, we got a shot.

“I’m pumping right now. It’s a little bit surreal, and it’s hard to kind of calm yourself a little bit but you’ve just got to rely on all the shots that you hit and just go back to what you know.”

Third win in five starts for Hovland

It is his third win in five starts after back-to-back victories in November and December at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba and Hero World Challenge, and could move him up to third in the Official World Golf Ranking.

“I have quite a lot to prove to be able to beat those guys (Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa in the Official World Golf Ranking) but this is a good start and we’ll see what happens.

“I try not to over emphasise the Majors and the big tournaments. Obviously, these are the ones we want to play well in, but you know, this is a really cool week, great field, good course. I try to just prepare myself the best that I can for every single week.”

The post Viktor Hovland wins Dubai Desert Classic appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.