Viktor Hovland came from six shots behind to earn his second DP World Tour and first Rolex Series title during the 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, and he did it with a masterclass from tee to green at Emirates Golf Club.
Here, we take a closer look at the statistics behind his latest triumph.
During the second event of 2022 on the DP World Tour, there was a premium placed on navigating brand new greens and hitting fairways on the Majilis - and Viktor Hovland did it all well.
Throughout the week he gained 2.79 strokes over the field average from Tee to Green (ranking third), 1.34 strokes over the field average off the tee (ranking second), and 1.73 strokes over the field average on approach to the green (ranking third).
Those statistics were the key to setting up his victory over the closing three holes on Sunday, where he hit the fairway at both 16 and 18 to set up birdies, and drove the par-four 17th to set up the only eagle on that hole all week.
Hovland's putting was also an interesting story throughout the week, but none more so than the final day. He ranked 18th in SG: Putting from Thursday to Sunday, but it was his long-range putting that made all the difference on his way to victory on greens which had been completely reconstructed in the last eight months.
On Sunday, he rolled in his fair share of putts from inside 10 feet, but it was a 25 footer at the eighth which initially proved he had the feel of the greens.
After a three-putt at the 15th Hovland thought his chance at the title was over, but he rolled in successive putts of 35 feet at 16 for birdie, and a 33 feet for eagle at the par-four 17th after driving the green.
At the last, he two-putted from 39 feet to secure a final-hole birdie and a spot in the play-off, where he triumphed with another birdie to best out Richard Bland.
The best stats from Viktor Hovlands victory
2nd - SG: Off the tee (+1.34)
3rd - SG: Approach the green (+1.73)
3rd - SG: Tee to green (+2.79)
6th - Birdies
8th - Driving Accuracy (62.50%)
10th - GIR (69.43%)
18th - SG: Putting (+0.96)
