Viktor Hovland fails to secure PGA Tour card for 2020
But all is not lost for Hovland, who can play his way onto the PGA Tour by coming through the Korn Ferry Finals.
Viktor Hovland may have finished tied fourth at the Wyndham Championship on Sunday, marking his fourth consecutive top-20 finish on the PGA Tour, but the Norwegian ace has failed to secure his playing rights on the main circuit for 2020.
Hovland, 21, was low amateur at both this year's Masters and US Open and has been tipped by many to become a World No.1 player in the near future.
A weekend surge featuring rounds of 64 and 65 at Sedgefield Country Club saw Hovland finish on 19-under par and three strokes behind Wyndham winner JT Poston.
While a tie for second still wouldn't have been enough for Hovland to play in this week's first FedEx Cup Playoffs event at the Northern Trust, it would have meant he secured enough points for a full PGA Tour card in 2020.
However, Hovland can still play his way onto the PGA Tour next season by earning one of 25 cards at the three-stage Korn Ferry Finals - and given his current form, you would very much expect him to do just that.
Hovland has now finished inside the top-20 in four of his last five starts since turning professional.
“I feel like I’ve just been playing better and better every single week,” said Hovland.
“Obviously this is my best finish throughout the five tournaments that I played. I’ve just got to keep it going in the Korn Ferry Finals and hopefully I’ll make it through.
“I've shot a couple good rounds or really low rounds, but mostly it’s just been very consistent. I think that gives me a lot of confidence going into the (Finals), because there are three tournaments and I know that if I just play my game, I should make it through.”
Should Hovland fail to secure a card at Finals, he would retain at least status on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour for 2020 with the option of accepting up to seven sponsor invites into PGA Tour events in an effort to gain his card.
Other big-name players to miss out on PGA Tour cards for next season include Martin Kaymer, Daniel Berger, Hunter Mahan and former FedEx Cup winner Bill Haas.
