The 73rd Hole: US Open & Open Championship predictions, Koepka validates LIV Golf, more after PGA Championship

4. Viktor Hovland puts his stamp on major championship resumé

It was widely discussed that, after registering no previous Top 10 finishes in majors prior to last year’s trip to St. Andrews, Viktor Hovland had gone back-to-back inside the Top 7 at his last two major starts.

But the onus for the Norwegian from fans wanting to see the best from the uber-talented 25-year-old was to see him do what it takes to close the deal. At Augusta, he shot 2-over in the final round to fall from outright third to T7. At St. Andrews, he shot an equal 2-over round to go from tied for the lead to T4 on the leaderboard. Hovland needed to finish the job.

On Sunday at Oak Hill, he did that. Obviously, he didn’t win his first major championship, but it was not Hovland fading into obscurity for Brooks Koepka to run away with his fifth major. Outside of the disastrous break that led to a double-bogey on the 16th hole, he was aggressive and ballsy in big moments, took his medicine to avoid most big mistakes, and pushed Koepka until almost the very end.

While all it means is yellow on the Wikipedia page for the third straight major for Viktor Hovland (and a big payday), the truth of the matter is that the still-young budding star proved that he has major pedigree. And rather than wondering if he has it, Hovland proved that it might just be a matter of time before he gets one and doesn’t just get beat on Sunday.