This time two years ago, Viktor Hovland was at the top of his game. Right now, his game is lost in the woods, literally.

Coming off a second straight missed cut in a Signature Event, Hovland began his 2025 Players Championship with back-to-back bogeys, including a water ball at the par-5 11th. A bounce-back birdie at No. 12 settled the nerves, but just a few holes later he found himself in a world of trouble.

The Norwegian took his second penalty stroke of the day at the par-4 15th, where he blocked his drive into the woods down the right side and managed to find the ball, just in an unplayable spot. So unplayable that Hovland had to get on all fours to pluck his ball out of a bush, creating an image that sums up the state of his game right now:

Kudos to Hovland for not making his caddie, Shay Knight, retrieve this one. You hit it there, you go get it.

Hovland had to take his medicine from there and punch out with his third shot. His fourth from 42 yards came to rest about 10 feet from the cup but he failed to save bogey. After turning in 39, he’s parred the first four holes on the front.

Main Image: Richard Heathcote