WATCH: Viktor Hovland Nearly Takes Out Dustin Johnson

Playing the 11th hole, Hovland very nearly wiped out the former world number one with an errant second shot

Hovland nearly hits DJ
(Image credit: Twitter: @PGATOUR)
Matt Cradock
By
published

The Valspar Championship got underway on Thursday at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club. However, for 24-time PGA Tour winner, Dustin Johnson, the tournament very nearly ended swiftly, as he was forced to duck for an errant second shot from world no.3, Viktor Hovland.

Starting on the back nine, Hovland's tee shot on the par-5 11th had found the middle of the fairway, but it was his following shot with his fairway wood that almost caused the most damage, with it spiralling to the right and almost wiping out the Major champions of Johnson and Jason Day.

Watch the video below:

To be fair to Hovland, the 24-year-old did let out a huge shout of 'fore!' which was heard clearly by those on the 12th tee.

As his ball landed, it made impact with something solid and eventually came to rest around 50 yards right of the green. In the end, Hovland would go on to make a par, before bogeying his next hole to sit one-over-par for his early round in Florida.

For Johnson, the near accident didn't seem to phase him, with the American going on to make a par at the 12th to sit one-under for the day.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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