Viktor Hovland has been voted the Golfer of the Month presented by DP World
Viktor Hovland has been named the January Golfer of the Month presented by DP World after 55.7% of fans voted for the Norwegian star across Twitter.
The 24-year-old picked up his first Rolex Series title at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club in dramatic fashion after defeating Englishman Richard Bland in a play-off.
Starting the day six shots back of overnight leader Justin Harding, the now World Number Four made the turn in 32, and was barely in the picture when he missed a short putt and made a bogey on the 15th, but finished birdie-eagle-birdie to sign for a 66 and post the target at 12 under.
Hovland then 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 Ryder Cup rookie who was left holding the famous Dallah trophy.
His win in Dubai follows a strong showing at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship where he finished tied fourth at Yas Links Abu Dhabi. His two performances at Rolex Series events with a 69.50 stroke average took him to the top of the DP World Tour Rankings.
Bland came second in the voting after his play-off defeat in Dubai. The 49-year-old rolled in a long birdie putt on the final hole to secure his place in the play-off, chasing his second Tour title after winning the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett last spring. Despite losing in extra holes, Bland picked up the largest pay cheque of his career.
Thomas Pieters finished third in the voting after a gutsy closing 72 handed him a one-shot victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. In tough conditions at Yas Links, the Belgian came out on top after rounds of 65-74-67-72, becoming the first Belgian to win a Rolex Series event and claim his sixth DP World Tour title just 77 days after he won his fifth at the Portugal Masters.
Rounding off the voting was Rafa Cabrera Bello who came second at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, finishing a shot behind Pieters, with the Spaniard one just a few players to shoot under par in all four rounds that week.