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**Hovland Finds Confidence at U.S. Open After Swing Tweaks**

OAKMONT, Pa. – Viktor Hovland, known for his harsh self-criticism even in victory, is displaying newfound confidence at the U.S. Open after extensive work on his swing. Despite securing a win at the Valspar Championship in March, Hovland remained critical of his ball-striking, prompting him to limit his tournament appearances and focus on improvements with swing coach Grant Waite.

That dedication seems to be paying off. After a second-round 68 on Friday, which left him at 1-under par and just two shots off the lead held by Sam Burns, Hovland expressed excitement about the progress he’s made. “Still haven’t been overly confident in my ball-striking up until recently, but last week we saw some really good progress, and earlier this week I was very happy with some of the shots that I was hitting out there in the practice rounds,” he said.

Hovland admitted to some late-round miscues, but emphasized his improved mental state. “A couple of times, if it would have happened at another tournament, I could have potentially lost my mind there a little bit. But I felt like I kept things together very well,” he said. This equanimity stems from his improved ball-striking, which has allowed him to handle adversity with greater ease.

Through two rounds, Hovland leads the field in strokes gained: tee to green, a testament to his strong driving and precise approach play. He’s also hit the second-most greens in regulation, a crucial statistic on the demanding Oakmont course.

While acknowledging that he’s not quite where he wants to be consistently, Hovland is optimistic. “I’m super happy with where we’re going,” he said. With his swing showing marked improvement and his self-doubt subsiding, Hovland could be poised for a breakthrough performance at the U.S. Open.

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