Q. Tell us about the last hole. Scottie in tight, you following, the putt, looks like a pretty hard slider, actually.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it's a tough one. I was obviously wanting to be below the pin, but wasn't sure how soft the greens were, if we were going to spin back at all. Obviously he hits it in there nicely, couldn't tell how close it was, but obviously when you get up there you see it's one of those putts that if I make mine, his gets significantly tougher, and if I miss, he probably will make his, I don't know. Yeah, it was definitely no gimmies there, so to put the pressure on him was awesome.
Q. What's better for you, winning or finally doing The Row?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: (Laughing). Yeah, that was my first one there. It's fun. You definitely get the adrenaline from it. No, but winning in the playoff against Scottie, best player in the world, was, that was pretty satisfying.
Q. Does it make it more meaningful? I mean, everyone's good out here, does it make it more meaningful when it's someone like him?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I think so. You always want to try to beat the best. What he's been doing the last few years is just super impressive, and I have so much respect for him and his game. To go up against him and have a chance to beat him, I think it's just super exciting. That's what you wake up every day to get better, that's for those moments right there.
Q. How much does it speak to your confidence with the putter, making a shot like that with a lot of people here, it's just one-on-one at this point, the tournament is down to just you two, and it was the putter that got it done?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I putted it great all week, basically. Yesterday I missed some short putts and got a little bit nervy over some putts, which I have a tendency to do at times. But it's a new day, and when Scottie sticks it in there tight, you know, there's no, you know, you can't be scared of anything, you got to make the putt, that's as simple as it gets. Just went through my routine and tried telling myself that, you know, I got this and I feel good and it just happened to roll in and I couldn't quite believe it.
Q. Could you tell us about how the pressure feels different playing that hole last night and then how it feels different playing it this morning?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it feels the same, you're still just as nervous, but it's a little bit different, knowing that, I mean, obviously you want to win, but there's less to lose in a way. You've kind of had time to reset and go through your warm-up, you're acquainted with what you're dealing with, with what you're going to show up and have to fairways, versus yesterday it's all unfolding in realtime. Sometimes it's hard to gather yourself in the moment. I think that was maybe one of the other things that were different. But at the same time you're still, I mean just on the drive it's hard to feel the same or go through the same routine, things just feel different, your legs are shaking, your hands are shaking, it's super challenging.
Q. How does this change your expectations or your goals or what you want to achieve at Birkdale?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, obviously I want to contend and have a chance to win. But at the end of the day I just proved a lot to myself that I have got the game now and I really made some big strides in just the way I've driven it all week, that's been kind of one of the weaknesses this year. This week I drove it amazing. I did a lot of good stuff the whole week. I just want to continue that trend. Whether I win or lose or whatever, I just want to play good golf and have fun out here again.
Q. Speaking of which, two things, we'll talk and remember about the putt, but going first in a playoff, speaking of driving, that was probably an important one for you.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I was thinking about it yesterday, I mean, with the practice rounds and even in the tournament rounds, 18, I've absolutely hammered it every single day. Even the drive yesterday and today, just straight down the middle. That just feels really good when you know that you've got that in there. You don't have to hope or steer it or guide it out there, you just swing and know that it's going to go straights down the middle. And that's something that I've been missing for a long time.
Q. Along those lines, I thought you made an interesting point this week about shots turning out the way you're seeing 'em. Scores are scores, they are whatever, at what point did you feel capable of doing this in terms of hitting shots and knowing what to expect? How long ago was that?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: That's one of the things that's been very difficult, especially when you've been going through some struggles like I have. Some of the shots that I've seen are just like, Whoa, how is that even possible? Like, I've never seen some of those shots before. Then I've had moments where, okay, I think I'm onto something, it feels good, and then that one big miss comes back again. So even if you're playing good golf it's still kind of in the back of your mind a little bit, like, Oh, are we over it, are we good. And you have a little bit of doubt still in there, even though you're hitting good shots. I don't know if there's like this one point where you go, Oh, I got it now, it just kind of those big misses stop happening and then you just expect to see the ball going straight. Kind of like what happened this week. Because even U.S. Open last week, I thought I drove it a lot better, but I had one big miss on the 12th hole out there in the left-to-right wind that went OB, so I had one bad shot that cost me two shots for the tournament and I missed the cut by a shot.
Q. How was Canada?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Canada was a lot better. But still it felt like I was maybe guiding it a little bit, not quite as comfortable as I would have liked. But it was definitely a huge step in the right direction. So I've been like progressing the whole way, but still having a little bit of doubt in there. But this week I just kind of went to work and felt comfortable.
Q. You're the first international champion here since 2016. Can you describe what the atmosphere what the environment was like, you and Scottie playing together the last three days, the USA chants, all your countrymen here for you?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it was amazing. Obviously the home crowd was rooting for Scottie, he's the best player in the world, we're in the United States of America, that goes, that's just kind of how it goes. But I thought it was super exciting. The crowds were super respectful and it just really motivated me to play better. Obviously with some Norwegian jerseys out there it brought the vibes, and I think the American crowds thought it was cool as well. I thought it made the event a lot more enjoyable, I think. So, yeah, it was just a blast to play at a great golf tournament, a great golf course, in front of great fans. And, yeah, it was an absolute blast.
Q. Andy mentioned that this was the course, this was the event that gave that you PGA TOUR exemption. What has this place meant to you over the years and now you find yourself in the winner's circle?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, crazy. This is where it all started. This was my first professional event. Every time I see Andy we kind of reminisce about it and it feels like a different lifetime ago. I feel like I've changed quite a bit, the world has changed quite a bit, so it's a little bit weird to come back here and think about some of the things that happened way back then. But it's also cool, it goes to show that, you know, I've come a long ways and it's really exciting now to finally be a champion of this great event.
Q. (Question about Viktor's mom being present.)
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I won a few times now over the world, but never had my mom or dad watch me win one. So that was really cool to have her here. We get to go home together to Norway later today, so, yeah, couldn't be a better way to win a golf tournament and celebrate going home.
Q. Didn't she used to call you after rounds and tell you what she saw? Did your mom ever do that?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I think you're referring to one story that was a little bit misconstrued.
Q. It was a great story.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it was a great story. Well, not for me, because I got a two-stroke penalty. But, no, she definitely watches the coverage back home. So when she doesn't come to get out here and watch, she will watch back home.
Q. What's her name?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Galina.
Q. Is it kind of funny or coincidental that Norway now goes to Scottie's hometown for the next match?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: (Laughing). That was probably more coincidental but, yeah, that should be a good game, yeah.
Q. Did you find out whoever made that chicken parm yesterday?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: No, I don't know who made it, but, yeah, it was a good meal.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports