Preview

Viktor Hovland’s approach to golf and life can teach us a lot about finding fulfillment, happiness and passion on and off the course.

More to Life than Money

Over a week ago, Viktor Hovland secured an $18 million victory in the FedEx Cup. You might assume he had a long list of extravagant purchases in mind after cashing that hefty check, but that wasn’t the case. All he wanted was some double meat at Chipotle and quality time with his family.

At the 2022 Genesis Invitational, there was a lot of talk about golf payouts, especially with the emergence of LIV. When asked about the need for more money, Hovland responded,

“That’s not what gets me up everyday in the morning. I’m just trying to get better at golf.”

A few minutes later, he was asked about how his lifestyle changed when he cashed his first significant check from a solid finish on the PGA Tour.

“When I first turned pro, I had a lot of security. I didn’t have to count every dollar I spent on travel and food. That was a big thing. Instead of not getting guacamole at Chipotle, I could get double meat.” 

Since his professional debut, Hovland has earned over $26 million solely on the PGA Tour. However, even after his largest payout of $18 million at East Lake, his priorities remained unchanged.

When questioned about how he planned to celebrate his substantial paycheck, he replied,

“I don’t have anything specific in mind to buy. To be honest, I’m just looking forward to some downtime this fall. I’ll spend more time in Norway and hang out with my friends, relax, and enjoy life.”

Despite living a superstar’s life, Hovland remains a simple and grounded man. There’s a profound life lesson to be learned from his approach to golf.

Passion and purpose cannot be purchased with any amount of money. Hovland doesn’t require more wealth to find happiness because he finds fulfillment in his every day pursuit. The one thing he desires but doesn’t have regularly is quality time at home with his loved ones, and that’s truly admirable.

When we distill life to its core it’s just that simple. If we can pursue what we’re passionate about, share moments and memories with loved ones, and have a place to call home, that’s a pretty good life. Of course, some double meat and guacamole from Chipotle wouldn’t hurt either.

The Good Stuff

Viktor Hovland’s famous Chipotle quote. Life’s about finding the little things that bring you joy. In this case, some guacamole.