Upon turning pro after the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Norway’s Viktor Hovland signed an endorsement deal with Ping. Nothing is ever a sure thing, but Hovland had been a star at Oklahoma State, he won the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach and was the low amateur at the 2019 Masters, so the pedigree was evident.
Four years later, Hovland has won multiple PGA Tour events, including the 2023 FedEx Cup, and played on two Ryder Cup teams. In Rome two weeks ago, he was a force at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club and helped the European team reclaim the Ryder Cup.
Ping has made 100 PLD “Hovi” putters to celebrate Hovland’s achievements and will sell them on Tuesday, October 10, at 2 p.m. Eastern for $990 at pingpld.com.
Each of the limited-edition putters matches the exact shape, size and weight of Hovland’s PLD DS72 and is milled from 1018 carbon steel. The clubs are all 36″ in length, have a 360-gram head weight and feature a top rail and back-flange line, along with the same red Winn 15″ Long Pistol grip that Hovland uses. On the sole, Ping has engraved “Hovi.”
“It was a lot of fun to watch Viktor’s season just get better and better,” said John K. Solheim, Ping’s CEO and president. “His stellar putting has been well documented, and we’re excited to offer golfers their own custom-built ‘Hovi’ model through the PLD Limited program. And it’s not just meant for collectors. We’re encouraging those lucky enough to get one to take it on the course and put it in play. It will be one of the best investments they ever make.”
Through the Ping PLD Custom program, which started in 2022, golfers have access to tour-level putters and high levels of customization, including exotic materials, custom stamping and unique setups. Ping has also used the PLD program to launch special limited-edition putters this year. For example, the brand sold 88 “Ping Slam 88” putters to commemorate the 35th anniversary of players using a Ping putter to win every men’s major in 1988.
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