BMW Championship: Viktor Hovland stuns Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick to take epic win

Victor Hovland combined 10 birdies with a solitary bogey in a stunning final round 61 to set the course record and claim a two-shot victory. Scottie Scheffler leads FedExCup standings after finishing tied for second with Matt Fitzpatrick

Victor Hovland produced a sensational barrage of birdies on the back nine to stun world No 1 Scottie Scheffler to claim a dramatic victory at the BMW Championship.

Hovland overturned a three-shot deficit during a thrilling final round at Olympia Fields Country Club, where he shot seven birdies in a back-nine 28 to set the course record with an incredible nine-under 61.

The Norwegian finished the week at 17 under to claim a second PGA Tour title of the season and fifth overall, with the latest success also seeing him close the gap on Scheffler at the top of the FedExCup standings heading into the Tour Championship.

Scheffler held at least a share of the lead for most of the day but saw his hopes end with a penultimate bogey, with the American finishing tied for second at 15 under with Matt Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy a further three shots back in fourth . .

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Scheffler missed a six-footer on the par-five first but took the lead when he converted from 10 feet to the next, with the world No 1 nearly holing his approach at the third to set up a tap-in for birdie .

Fitzpatrick putt from 20 feet to match his partner’s birdie and added another from close range on the next draw level, with both then tee shots to 6 feet and shots on the first sixth to move at 14 down. .

Hovland – playing two groups ahead – had birdied three of his five holes to briefly move into one of the lead, but then bogeyed the seventh to make it 33, while partner McIlroy was a further move back after finishing his front nine. with a daddy.

Scheffler blew another birdie chance at the seventh and watched Fitzpatrick make a remarkable bogey to avoid the eighth, only for the Englishman to bogey the ninth and fall one behind at the turn.

Fitzpatrick converted from 12 feet to join Scheffler for birdie at the 10th and temporarily moved back into a tie for the lead when the American bogeyed the next four, while Hovland moved into contention by starting his back nine with three consecutive birdies.

Hovland responded to a missed birdie opportunity at the 13th by birdieing the next to make it temporarily three-way tied, only for Scheffler to birdie from 15 feet and 25 feet over his next two holes to card back. -back birdies and goes two clean.

Fitzpatrick recovered from the 14th by bogeying his next two holes to get back to within one, as Hovland capitalized on the five-under 15th and added to his birdie tally on the par-17 to join Scheffler on 16 under .

Scheffler had to settle for par at the 15th and missed a bogey from six feet after a stunning tee shot at the 16th saw him fall behind for the first time when Hovland hit an incredible back nine putt to eight feet. birdie at last to set the club target.

Hovland’s lead was doubled when Scheffler inexplicably nailed a three-putt bogey at the 17th, with victory secured when neither Scheffler nor Fitzpatrick could hole their second shots at the last and both settled for the shutout.

McIlroy birdied three of his final five holes to card a four-under 66 and take fourth place, with Open champion Brian Harman and halfway leader Max Homa further tied for fifth.

What’s next?

The PGA Tour season culminates Thursday in the Tour Championship, where only the top 30 in the FedExCup standings are featured and players are given a stroke advantage based on their position.

Scheffler will start with a two-shot lead over Hovland and McIlroy will start at seven under in third, while Jon Rahm starts in fourth ahead of Lucas Glover.

Who will win the FedExCup? Watch the Tour Championship all week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage starts on Thursday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.