[Golf Topic] 'Taekwondoman' Hoblan "Already World Ranking 7th?"... Ram 'Number 1'

Victor Hovland is cheering immediately after winning the Hero World Challenge. Bahamas=Getty Images/Multivitz

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ○..."Already world ranking 7th."

The rise of 'Taekwon Man' Viktor Hovland (Norway) continues. In the weekly official golf world rankings announced on the afternoon of the 6th (Korean time), he received 6.57 points, climbing two spots from 9th place last week. He accumulated points by winning the Hero World Challenge (total prize money $3.5 million) held at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas (par 72, 7,309 yards) which ended that morning. Although it is not a regular PGA Tour event, the winner's prize is $1 million (1.19 billion KRW), and world ranking points are also awarded.

Hovland set a new milestone as the 'first Norwegian PGA champion' by winning the Puerto Rico Open in February last year, and secured his second victory at the Mayakoba Classic included in the 2021 season in December. His recent record shows fewer wins, with runner-up finishes at the Farmers Open in January and the Workday Championship in February, and third places at the Valspar Championship and Wells Fargo in May. Last month, he successfully defended his title at the Worldwide Technology Championship (Mayakoba Classic), gaining momentum again.

Jon Rahm (Spain), Collin Morikawa, and Dustin Johnson are the 'top 3.' Morikawa, who started the final day of the Hero World Challenge with a commanding 5-stroke lead, faltered with a 4-over-par round and dropped to a tie for 5th place, losing his chance to become 'number 1.' Patrick Cantlay is 4th, and Xander Schauffele (both USA), the 'Tokyo Olympics gold medalist,' is 5th. Korea has three players in the 'top 100': Im Sung-jae, the 'Shriners Children's Open champion,' at 26th, Kim Si-woo (26) at 51st, and Lee Kyung-hoon (30) at 64th.