‘I Owe Viktor Hovland’: Ex-Coach Makes Surprising Confession After Controversial Spilt With PGA Tour Pro

You don’t often hear coaches giving credit where credit is due, but Joe Mayo is a different story. As the former swing coach for Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, Mayo has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride with his star pupil. The two first parted ways in late 2023, shortly after Hovland’s thrilling win at the FedEx Cup, with Hovland citing a desire to explore new approaches to improve his game. But in a surprising twist, Mayo was brought back into the fold for the 2024 PGA Championship – only for the two to split again just a few months later, in December 2024. Despite the ups and downs, Mayo has been vocal about the immense talent Hovland possesses and reflected on their time together.

In a recent YouTube episode of No Laying Up Golf, Mayo joined Soly and KVV to dish on his time working with Viktor Hovland. And let me tell you, he had some pretty surprising things to say. “I owe Viktor Hovland a debt of gratitude… he took me places that I could have never taken myself,” Mayo admitted. He was quick to point out that Hovland’s insane talent was the real driving force behind their success – Mayo was just along for the ride. “Victor had it, he just didn’t know where it was… but he had it,” Mayo explained, shaking his head in awe of Hovland’s natural ability.

Mayo’s comments were a breath of fresh air, especially in a world where coaches often take credit for their athletes’s successes. “It’s the player, it’s the athlete, it always has been and it always will be,” Mayo said with a shrug. He even threw in a quote from the legendary coach Adolph Rupp: “You don’t win the Kentucky Derby riding a mule.” Mayo’s point was clear, no matter how great the coach you need talented athletes to win championships.