30 days until golf: Wolff, Hovland capture 1st titles with clutch putts
The PGA Tour plans to restart its season June 11 after halting due to the coronavirus pandemic. Each day until then, we'll highlight key moments, people, or facts relating to where we are in the countdown.
Matthew Wolff and Viktor Hovland, two former teammates at Oklahoma State, both broke onto the PGA Tour in a big way within the past year.
Not only did each future star claim his first win a very short time after turning pro, but they both did so in dramatic fashion on the final hole.
Wolff found the winner's circle first, during only his third start as a professional at the 3M Open last July. In a tight battle with Bryson DeChambeau and fellow rookie Collin Morikawa, he stood over a 30-foot putt for eagle on 18.
The then-20-year-old drilled it to secure a one-shot victory and become the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since Jordan Spieth in 2013.
Fast forward to February, when Hovland found himself in contention at the Puerto Rico Open.
The 22-year-old was deadlocked with Josh Teater going into No. 18. He hit his approach shot to 30 feet and proceeded to drain the birdie effort to become Norway's first PGA Tour winner. It was only his 12th Tour start as a pro.
It's worth noting that Morikawa, the third super-rookie to turn professional in 2019, also won on the PGA Tour last summer. He took down the Barracuda Championship in only his sixth start and hasn't missed a cut as a pro.
It's safe to say the future of the PGA Tour is in great hands.