Viktor Hovland won the BMW Championship with one of the best-ever performances in the final round of a PGA TOUR event.
The 25-year-old Norwegian carded seven birdies on the back nine on his way to a course record 61 and a 17-under-par winning total. It was the lowest score in the history of the FedExCup Playoffs and good enough to see him beat third round leaders Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick by two shots.
Hovland had started the final round three shots behind Scheffler and Fitzpatrick, and it seemed likely to remain a battle between the two Major winners for some time. However, the Norwegian then put on a masterclass in ball striking, birdieing every hole bar the two par 3s on the difficult back nine of the North Course at Olympia Fields to reel in the leaders and then pull away.
“To win the BMW Championship at a course like Olympia Fields, and against the world’s best players, is a really incredible feeling,” said Hovland. “That has to be the best round I’ve ever played. Given the circumstances – a playoff event, this golf course – the way I played the back nine was pretty special.”
With Scheffler and Fitzpatrick tied second, Rory McIlroy finished a further three shots back in fourth, with Open champion Brian Harman and Max Homa a shot back in a tie for fifth.
Second place for world no.1 Scheffler was enough to keep his nose in front at the top of the FedExCup standings going into this week’s Tour Championship at the East Lake Golf Club. Hovland climbed to second, with McIlroy still third. Fitzpatrick jumped from 40th to tenth.
The BMW Championship is the penultimate Playoff tournament at which just 30 of the 50 players who started the event in Chicago qualify for the season finale. The last three spots were secured by Tyrrell Hatton, Jordan Spieth and Sepp Straka.
“Congratulations to Viktor Hovland on his incredible performance, especially in the final round, to become the 2023 BMW Champion,” said Ilka Horstmeier, Head of Human Resources and Real Estate for tournament sponsor BMW AG. “It has been a historic tournament week at a fantastic venue with great fans. Many thanks to the Olympia Fields Country Club, all our partners, volunteers and everyone involved. In addition to hosting a great tournament, the BMW Group is especially proud to know that the BMW Championship makes a difference in the lives of so many young people.”
All proceeds from the BMW Championship will benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF). Since the tournament’s inception in 2007, the BMW Championship has raised over $45m for the ESF and sent 3,300 caddies to college. These totals do not include the BMW Championship 2023. Currently, the ESF is helping a record number of 1,130 caddies to study.