Viktor Hovland in shock split ahead of 2024 season

Viktor Hovland has surprisingly parted ways with his swing coach. 

‘Trackman Maestro’ Joe Mayo has been credited with a transformative impact on Hovland’s short game as the Norwegian established himself as one of the best players in the world in 2023.

The short game had been Hovland’s glaring weakness before linking up with Mayo at the start of last year, and he improved 91 positions in strokes gained around the green on the PGA Tour in his most successful season yet.

But in a development that has shocked many golf fans who have followed Hovland’s progress closely, the world No.4 has now separated from Mayo after just one year.

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The news was revealed by the Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on Wednesday as Hovland prepared to get his 2024 season up and running at The Sentry in Hawaii.

Lewis stated that Hovland ‘did not want to get into details regarding the split’, while Sports Illustrated’s Gabrielle Herzig added that Mayo has also declined to comment.

Mayo, who is seen as one of the pioneers in the use of the Trackman simulator in golf training, began instructing Hovland at the start of 2023, and the results were immediate.

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Hovland gained new confidence around the greens after developing a new technique to hit down on the ball more steeply, based on unique advice given by Mayo.

The 26-year-old did not miss a cut all season and lifted three PGA Tour titles, as well as the FedEx Cup after victory in the Tour Championship at East Lake.

It is unclear whether Hovland has appointed a new coach as he tees it up in the season-opening tournament at Kapalua.

He heads a limited field of 59 this week, which also includes world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Aberg and Jordan Spieth.

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.