After winning The Memorial Tournament following a hard-fought four days culminating in a playoff with Denny McCarthy, few would have begrudged Viktor Hovland some time off before next week’s US Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
Instead, Hovland is heavily involved in final qualifying for the third Major of the year, dubbed Golf’s Longest Day, as a caddie! The Norwegian is on the bag for his friend Zach Bauchou at a qualifier in Ohio, less than a day after claiming his fourth PGA Tour win at Muirfield Village.
According to the Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, Bauchou sounded Hovland out about the possibility of him caddying for him over dinner last Tuesday night, which Hovland agreed to.
What is Viktor Hovland doing a day after winning @MemorialGolf? He is caddying for his friend and former teammate at a Oklahoma State, Zach Bauchou who is trying to make it through the final stage of @usopengolf qualifying in Columbus, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/DwFco7tmpOJune 5, 2023
Viktor and Zach had dinner in Columbus Tuesday night when Zach floated the idea of Viktor caddying for him at the final qualifier. Viktor accepted and is living up to his promise less than 14 hours after the biggest win of his career. Hovland is now #5 in the world.June 5, 2023
The pair used to be roommates at Oklahoma State University, so their friendship goes back some time. However, carrying the bag for the gruelling 36-hole marathon so soon after his mentally and physically exhausting win in the designated event is an impressive show of commitment. According to Lewis, he's not shirking any of his responsibilities, either.
Viktor Hovland is in full caddie mode for his friend Zach Bauchou at the Columbus, Ohio qualifier for the @usopengolf. Viktor is engaged getting yardages, cleaning clubs, doing everything to help Zach. Shows great humility and character to do this after a win like @MemorialGolf. pic.twitter.com/eZzyrnaUrAJune 5, 2023
Bauchou, who mainly plies his trade on the Asian Tour, has yet to compete in a Major, but he will be hoping the influence of the new World No.5 gives him the inspiration to finally break that duck.
Now THAT is a teammate!Not even 24 hours after winning @PGATOUR's @MemorialGolf, Viktor Hovland is back out on Golf's Longest Day caddieing for his former @OSUCowboyGolf roommate Zach Bauchou. pic.twitter.com/SBXgqCVeL6June 5, 2023
A video also shows Hovland offering encouragement to Bauchou as the pair make their way around the course, as well as the pair sharing in some lighthearted banter.
🏆 ➡️ Golf’s Longest DayViktor Hovland is trying out a new gig: 36 holes on the bag for college teammate Zach Bauchou 🤝 pic.twitter.com/2CbrKD6Nj5June 5, 2023
As for Hovland, he is preparing for his fifth appearance in the US Open and will be looking to improve on his best finish in it to date, a tie for 12th in 2019. If his form in 2023 is anything to go by, there’s every chance he will. As well as his latest PGA Tour win, he finished T7 at The Masters and T2 at the PGA Championship.
Elsewhere, club pro Michael Block, who finished T15 at Oak Hill, is also competing in US Open final qualifying. Other notable names hoping to qualify include LIV Golf players Marc Leishman, Carlos Ortiz, Brendan Steele, Sebastian Munoz, Harold Varner III and Peter Uihlein. Ryder Cup captains Luke Donald and Zach Johnson compete too. One LIV Golf player who had been due to play is Matthew Wolff. However, he has withdrawn through injury.
