Viktor Hovland beats Scottie Scheffler in Monday playoff at Travelers
Viktor Hovland won the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, defeating Scottie Scheffler in a sudden-death playoff on Monday morning.
Viktor Hovland claimed the Travelers Championship title on Monday, 29 June 2026, defeating world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a sudden-death playoff at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. The victory marks Hovland’s eighth PGA Tour win and his first since the Valspar Championship in March 2025.
The tournament concluded in an unconventional Monday morning finish after a 90-minute weather delay on Sunday forced organizers to suspend play due to a lack of daylight. The two leaders had finished regulation play tied at 21-under. The resulting playoff was decided on the par-4 18th hole, where both players found the fairway and struck impressive approach shots.
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Scheffler, currently ranked as the best player in the world, landed his 155-yard approach within approximately 3 feet of the pin. Hovland followed by placing his own ball from 151 yards to give himself a great look at birdie as well. Under intense pressure, Hovland drained his birdie putt, forcing Scheffler to convert his short attempt to keep the playoff alive. Scheffler’s putt missed wide, sliding past the hole, which secured the win for the Norwegian.
"Winning in the playoff against Scottie — best player in the world — that was pretty satisfying."
Viktor Hovland, winner, via AP News
Hovland’s win followed a resilient performance on Sunday, during which he overcame a two-shot deficit on the back nine. The victory was witnessed by his mother, Galina, who attended a professional tournament to see her son win in person for the first time. The atmosphere at the course was notable for the presence of a large contingent of Norwegian fans, who had traveled to Connecticut following their country’s recent World Cup match in Boston. These supporters performed the “viking row” chant.
Scheffler expressed disappointment with the final result but maintained a positive outlook on his ball striking, which he described as some of the best he has produced all season. He noted that he hit his playoff putt on the correct line but felt it was too firm.
"I’ve been playing golf with Viktor for a long time. We’ve had some good battles in college and out here as a pro. He has so much talent. He hits the ball so solidly. … So when you see a guy like that who practices as hard as he does and works as hard as he does, you’re always glad to see those people have success."
Scottie Scheffler, runner-up, via Yahoo Sports
What to watch next
- Norway World Cup: The Norwegian soccer team, which counts many of Hovland's fans as supporters, is scheduled to face Ivory Coast in a Round of 32 match on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, in Dallas.
- The Open Championship: Scottie Scheffler is expected to compete at Royal Birkdale.
- PGA Tour Schedule: The tour continues with upcoming events as players prepare for the final stages of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Following this performance, Hovland’s focus shifts to sustaining the form he found at TPC River Highlands, while Scheffler moves on to his next challenge in a season characterized by frequent appearances near the top of the leaderboard.
