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You’ll have heard the golf cliché that proffers a tournament can’t be won on a Thursday but it can surely be lost. Viktor Hovland has his own theory about working ones way into contention and it extends well beyond the first round.

The world No.5 is nicely in the mix at the 33rd Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, an opening 68 leaving him just three adrift of overnight leader JB Hansen.

Asked what he’d garnered from his breakout 2021, where he won Tiger’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas to go with a third PGA Tour title at Mayakoba in November and his DP World Tour breakthrough at the BMW International in June, Hovland turned introspective.

“I think one thing is not putting as much pressure on myself earlier in the week,” said the 24-year-old Norwegian.

“Like I don’t have to play perfect to shoot a good score. Just kind of believing in my abilities and just not getting as stressed out there on the golf course.”

Hovland subscribed to his own theory in a patient outward nine played in even par before a brilliant eagle three on the 10th triggered an inward journey played four under.

“It was a good day but I wish I could have taken advantage of some of the easier holes a little bit better,” Hovland said before remembering his station in life and that whole not getting stressed out thing.

Just  2½ years into your professional careers, you’re up to No.5 in the world. 

“Yeah, that’s pretty wild. Doesn’t feel like that when I’m out on the golf course. Just trying to compete against the golf course and myself. That is a pretty cool thing to say.”

It would be even cooler to call yourself the world’s best. How big an ambition is that?

“Of course I’d love to but I’m going to have fun with this game regardless if it happens or not. It’s more about playing well and trying to lift some trophies, and if it comes, it comes, and if not, I’m sure I’ll be happy regardless.”