Viktor Hovland Pulls Out Of WM Phoenix Open As Paul Waring Gets PGA Tour Debut
Viktor Hovland has withdrawn from the upcoming WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, with DP World Tour player Paul Waring taking his spot in the field.
Golfer swings club in black attire
While no official reason was given for the withdrawal, Hovland has experienced an inconsistent start to 2024, including a T36 finish at The Sentry and a missed cut at the Dubai Desert Classic. Despite shooting an impressive 65 in the first round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am followed by a 71, Hovland remains dissatisfied with his game.
"I'm still not happy with my game, how it looks, but that doesn't mean that I can't have great individual days or tournaments," Hovland stated after his opening round at Pebble Beach. "The problems are still there, but I was able to overcome it today."
Golfer celebrates with Masters trophy
The World No.9 has struggled to maintain the form that led to his FedEx Cup victory in 2023. "Your expectations start lowering drastically because I know what I'm capable of. 2023 I had the best season of my career and I know I can play at that level again," Hovland explained.
For Paul Waring, this represents his first PGA Tour start since earning his card through the DP World Tour's 2024 Race to Dubai rankings. The Englishman, who won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links, will look to bounce back after missing the cut at the Dubai Desert Classic.