The Masters is about to begin on Thursday, and Viktor Hovland had a surprising reveal during the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club.
He had a special guest with him on the green- his girlfriend, in what is believed to be the first public appearance for the couple. The Norwegian golf star, 28, is typically private when it comes to his personal life, and he has typically celebrated his professional wins with family or friends.
Among those wins are the 2020 Puerto Rico Open, 2023 BMW Championship, and the 2023 Tour Championship to secure his first FedEx Cup. He’s now heading into a stacked field of competitors vying to win the Green Jacket, including reigning champion Rory McIlroy and two-time winner Scottie Scheffler.
However, Hovland now has extra pressure on him to claim the Green Jacket for the first time, as his girlfriend became a talking point from Wednesday’s context.
With the live coverage on ESPN, photos and videos have been arriving online from various moments, including Hovland with his girlfriend, Tuva. The Athletic’s Gabby Herzig shared an X post in which she called it “The Masters Par 3 hard-launch: A tradition unlike any other.”
The surprising debut gained attention online for the typically private golfer, as many individuals reacted on X (formerly Twitter) with their comments about Hovland bringing his girlfriend to Augusta.
“Atta boy way to launch the relationship,” an X commenter wrote about his girlfriend’s debut.
“The world’s most interesting professional golfer,” a commenter replied to an X post.
“I got Viktor Hovland winning this week!” another commenter said, while one wrote, “Viktor is my dark horse pick!!”
In an X video that popped up of his girlfriend, Tuva showed off her putting skills during the Par Three Contest, impressing spectators who cheered with excitement and the commentary team.
“Very nicely done,” one of the commentators said after seeing how her put put the ball close to the hole, while a spectator yelled out, “Get it, girl!”
Hovland’s best finish at The Masters came several years ago. He finished in a tie for seventh at the 2023 tournament with a 6-under-par score. He’s made the cut multiple times, with a tie for 21st last year.
Heading into Thursday’s opening round for this year, Hovland’s odds to win were far below top contenders like Scheffler, McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and others. However, having his girlfriend there could give him the supportive boost he needs to climb his way up the leaderboard and turn heads by contending for his first-ever Green Jacket.
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