Norwegian Viktor Hovland might be one of the world’s top golfers, but he is also his own biggest critic, and he embraces it fully.
Heading into the 2025 Masters ranked ninth in the world, Hovland opened up about the way he talks to himself before big moments. And he surprised reporters by dropping a Slim Shady reference to explain it.
“If you’ve seen “8 Mile” with Eminem, it’s like before his final rap battle, he kind of disses himself”, Hovland said. “It’s like: ‘Here I am, what else you got on me?’ I think it just puts it out there so you can focus on the things that I need to focus on, get back”.
He explained that putting all his flaws out in the open clears his mind so he can get back to the real work — improving his game.
The 27-year-old Norwegian is coming off a rollercoaster stretch. He won three tournaments in 2023 and took home the FedEx Cup, but then hit a rough patch after changing coaches and making big swing adjustments. Now, after reuniting with coach Joe Mayo and picking up a win at the Valspar Championship, he seems to be back in form — Eminem-style.
If you were hoping for an "8 Mile" reference during the Tuesday press conferences at #TheMasters, Viktor Hovland has you covered… pic.twitter.com/92ZY8g96CD
— John Hart (@JohnHartWJBF) April 8, 2025
