PGA TOUR
World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba
Hovland Goes Back-To-Back at Mayakoba
Norway’s Viktor Hovland scored an emphatic four-shot victory at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba in Mexico. It is his second victory at the event in as many years. In February 2020, Hovland won this event by a narrow one-shot margin when he birdied the final hole.
Hovland, ranked 17 in the world, breezed through the picturesque seaside El Camaleon Golf Club layout with rounds of 67, 65, 62 and 67 to reach 23-under. After turning professional in 2019, the 24-year-old rising star boasts three PGA Tour titles and one European Tour victory. Hovland took a two-shot lead into Sunday and set about his win with a flawless outward nine with three unanswered birdies. The Ryder Cup debutant this year at Whistling Straits, poured in three more birdies on the run home with two blemishes and signed for a 4-under 67 final round.
Crowd favourite Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz claimed solo second place at 19-under after firing a final round 5-under 66. The 30-year-old, who was looking for his second PGA Tour title, made up ground on the closing stretch peeling off five birdies in the final seven holes. Ortiz heads to Texas next week where he will defend his victory at last year’s Houston Open when he outlasted Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama.
America’s Justin Thomas staked outright third place at 18-under. The world No. 7 started the final round three back from Hovland and was unable to charge for the win with a 2-under 69.
Thomas edged Ryder Cup teammate Scottie Scheffler by one shot. Scheffler finished at 17-under in fourth place by himself after carding a final round 5-under 66. The Texan, who was searching for his maiden PGA Tour win, was one of the hottest players on the course making seven birdies at the opening 13 holes. His run for the title ended with a double-bogey at the 16th hole.
Matt Jones and last week’s winner Lucas Herbert were the only Australians in the field. Both players missed the 36-hole cut.
The PGA Tour moves to Texas for next week’s Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open staged at Memorial Park Golf Course. Mexioc’s Carlos Ortiz is the defending champion.
Final Scores
World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba
1. Viktor Hovland -23
2. Carlos Ortiz -19
3. Justin Thomas -18
4. Scottie Scheffler -17
T5. Matthew Wolff -16
T5. Joaquin Niemann -16
Australians
MC. Matt Jones
MC. Lucas Herbert
Photo credit: Mike Ehrmann /Getty Images
