Viktor Hovland caddies at US Open qualifying hours after Memorial win

Just hours after winning the biggest tournament of his career, Viktor Hovland was on caddie duties for a college friend at US Open final qualifying.

Hovland earned a career-high $3.6million paycheque for his victory in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village on Sunday.

The Norwegian edged out Denny McCarthy in a play-off to claim his fourth and most significant triumph on the PGA Tour.

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But there was no time for celebration as Hovland had committed to spending the next day carrying the bag for his former Oklahoma State teammate Zach Bauchou in Columbus, Ohio.

Hovland fulfilled his promise to loop for Bauchou for the duration of the gruelling 36-hole qualifying event at The Lakes Golf and Country Club and Brookside Golf Club on Monday.

Bauchou, who missed the cut at the Mexican Open in April, teed off at 8.am local time at the Lakes course and his second round was scheduled to begin at 2pm.

No rest for the champion.

Less than 24 hours after his victory @MemorialGolf, Viktor Hovland is caddying for former @OSUCowboyGolf teammate Zach Bauchou at U.S. Open Final Qualifying in Columbus. pic.twitter.com/j6LdZxOGGt

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 5, 2023

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/SBXgqCVeL6

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 5, 2023

The American shares a close relationship with Hovland after the duo were part of the Oklahoma State team who claimed the NCAA national team title in 2018.

And he can now count on the expertise of the world No.5 as he bids to qualify for the third major of the year at Los Angeles Country Club.

Hovland, perhaps still running on the adrenaline of his superb victory on Sunday, will be one of the strong favourites to claim his maiden major title at next week’s US Open.

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The 25-year-old finished T7 at The Masters and came up just short in a tie for second as Brooks Koepka won his fifth major crown at the PGA Championship before his victory in the Memorial.

Other notable names competing in US Open final qualifying include the two Ryder Cup captains Luke Donald and Zach Johnson, LIV golfers Carlos Ortiz and Marc Leishman, and heroic club pro Michael Block.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.