Viktor Hovland admits he cannot predict his driver or wood two weeks before Ryder Cup

Viktor Hovland said he has “no idea where my ball will go” when he uses a driver or fairway wood, an alarming admission two weeks before the Ryder Cup as Europe prepare to travel to Bethpage Black in New York.

The world No. 15 carded a second-round 66 at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth to sit 11 under par, tied for second with Justin Rose and Ludvig Aberg and one stroke behind Hideki Matsuyama. Despite the low score, Hovland said his long-game inconsistency was making the game "a bit more stressful than it should be."

"These shots hurt my soul," Hovland said after his round on Friday, describing a string of high, pushed slices when he wanted the ball to start left and curve back. He highlighted the contrast between results and intent, saying, "It's not the shot I'm envisioning. I would rather hit a shot I'm envisioning and up in the left bunker. The wind was way off the right and I've been basically hitting high, push slices all day, so when I hit it there, it's perfect. On paper I'm gaining shots. But it's not the shot I'm envisioning."

Hovland’s closing eagle on the par-five 18th, his second straight three at the hole, underlined the mixed nature of his week: excellent recovery and short-game play offsetting erratic long shots. Tournament observers noted his iron play and short game have been particularly strong and were key to producing the low round despite the driver and wood troubles.

The BMW PGA Championship is one of Europe’s biggest tournaments on the DP World Tour and falls two weeks before the Ryder Cup, scheduled at Bethpage Black. Hovland is part of the European side bound for New York; teammate Rasmus Hojgaard, the only rookie in Europe's delegation, missed the cut at Wentworth.

Other players in contention included Justin Rose, who also shot a 66 on a day of heavy rain and said he felt confident about his chances of winning at Wentworth after 20 visits. Tommy Fleetwood produced two birdies in his final three holes to make the weekend, finishing alongside Rory McIlroy on three under after McIlroy double-bogeyed the 18th to card a 72.

Hovland, who has previously attracted attention for pursuing unconventional interests off the course, acknowledged the frustration of the present patch of form even as the scoreboard remained respectable. His comments will draw scrutiny because the Ryder Cup format places a premium on pairing players whose games are dependable under match-play pressure.

With less than a fortnight until Europe fly to the United States, Hovland's admission adds a new line of focus for selectors, team management and supporters watching whether his short game and irons will compensate for the unpredictable long game at Bethpage Black. The BMW PGA Championship continues through the weekend, with the leaderboard tightly bunched and the Ryder Cup countdown intensifying.