So, you're looking for the Viktor Hovland scorecard today and probably wondering why he isn't climbing the leaderboard at Waialae. If you’ve been refreshing the Sony Open in Hawaii scores since Thursday, you’ve likely noticed a glaring omission. The 2023 FedEx Cup champion isn't there.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer for fans. After a massive 2025 campaign where he nabbed a win at the Valspar Championship and finished 3rd at the U.S. Open at Oakmont, expectations for "Hovi" are through the roof. But instead of the tropical breeze of Honolulu, Hovland is preparing for a different kind of heat.
The short version? He isn't playing this week. While the PGA Tour is busy in Hawaii, Viktor is across the globe getting ready for the DP World Tour's Middle East swing.
Where is Viktor Hovland?
The Norwegian star has decided to skip the early January PGA Tour events to focus on the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, which kicks off next week, January 22, 2026.
It’s a strategic move. Many top-tier European players, including Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, are following a similar path. They’re opting for the massive purses and world ranking points available in the UAE. For Hovland, Dubai has been kind in the past—remember his 2022 victory there? He beat Richard Bland in a playoff that felt like it lasted forever.
If you were hoping to see his ball-striking clinics this weekend, you'll have to wait a few more days. He’s currently ranked 15th in the world (as of early January 2026), and he’s clearly prioritizing a global schedule rather than the grind of the early American West Coast swing.
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Breaking Down the Recent Numbers
Even though we don't have a Viktor Hovland scorecard today, we can look at what he's been doing lately to see where his game stands.
His 2025 season was a rollercoaster of elite iron play and "kinda shaky" short game moments. According to Data Golf and PGA Tour stats, Hovland ranked 8th in Strokes Gained: Approach last season. That’s vintage Viktor. He hits it closer than almost anyone when he's dialed in.
However, the chipping remains the talking point. He ranked 168th in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green. It’s the one thing that keeps him from being the undisputed world number one.
- Approach the Green: 0.719 (Ranked 8th)
- Off-the-Tee: 0.166 (Ranked 70th)
- Around-the-Green: -0.404 (Ranked 168th)
- Putting: -0.149 (Ranked 128th)
He finished his 2025 season with a T23 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa back in December. Before that, he was a force on the European Tour, grabbing a T6 at the DP World India Championship and a T5 at the BMW PGA Championship. He’s been playing plenty of golf; he’s just being very selective about where he plays.
What Most People Get Wrong About Hovland’s Schedule
There’s this idea that because Hovland won the FedEx Cup and $18 million in 2023, he’d just stay on the PGA Tour forever.
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Actually, Viktor has always been a "world player." He grew up in Oslo, went to Oklahoma State, and lives in Stillwater, but he’s deeply loyal to his European roots. He’s been vocal about his frustrations with the pro golf landscape lately—basically saying he wants to play where the best competition and the most interesting venues are.
Skipping the Sony Open isn't a sign of injury. It's a sign of a guy who knows exactly how to peak for the events he cares about.
The Road Ahead for Viktor
Since there is no Viktor Hovland scorecard today, your next chance to track his birdies and bogeys will be at the Emirates Golf Club.
The Hero Dubai Desert Classic field is stacked. He’ll be facing off against Rory McIlroy, who is hunting for his fifth Dallah Trophy, and defending champ Tyrrell Hatton. Following that, we expect to see Viktor back in the States for the "Signature Events" on the PGA Tour.
He’s the defending champion at the Valspar Championship, which is scheduled for mid-March 2026. That’s a tournament he loves—Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course demands the kind of precision that suits his "aim small, miss small" mentality.
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Key Dates for Your Calendar:
- January 22-25: Hero Dubai Desert Classic (DP World Tour)
- February 12-15: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Potential PGA Tour Return)
- March 12-15: The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass
- March 19-22: Valspar Championship (Defending his title)
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're a bettor or a fantasy manager looking for a "Viktor Hovland scorecard today," don't let his absence this week discourage you.
When he returns in Dubai, look closely at his "Strokes Gained: Around the Green" stats for the first two rounds. If he’s even-par or better in that category, he usually wins or finishes in the top five. His ball striking is so consistently good that he only needs a mediocre chipping week to dominate.
Also, keep an eye on his equipment. He’s been known to tinker with his driver and putter setup frequently over the last 12 months. Any stability in his bag usually leads to a hot streak.
Stay tuned for next week. The desert usually brings out the best in his game.
Next Steps: You can bookmark the DP World Tour's official leaderboard for next Thursday morning (late Wednesday night in the US) to see Hovland's first real scorecard of 2026. If you want to see his 2025 highlights to get hyped for his return, the PGA Tour's YouTube channel just dropped a "Best of Hovland" compilation from last season.