16 November 2023 , 09:00
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Viktor Hovland understands that money is important but he's made a point to not let it rule his life. While speaking during a press conference before the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the 26-year-old told reporters just how he's spent his £28 million in earnings this season.
"Not necessarily like materialistic things, but I took my mom to a nice trip to Malta and we went there and hung out and ate good food," Hovland revealed. "Checked out some places and sightseed a little bit. So that's the stuff that's cool."
Although Hovland earned a lot of money this season, he wanted to make sure that the events he got experience and the improvement he's made on the course is what matters most to him.
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"I mean, I knew FedEx Cup was $18 million (£14.49 million), but I really didn't have an idea how much I made this year," Hovland told reporters when asked if he knew just how much money he accumulated this season. "Yeah, it's cool, it's nice to have, like I don't mind it.
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"But when I'm sitting here and especially after the Ryder Cup and I'm just looking over the year, it's the experiences and the moments that we had in Rome, that was incredible and then just looking back to, 'Hey, I won three times this year, big time events and I'm really proud of the way that I won those events' because I don't feel like I would've been capable of winning those events earlier in the year."
The No. 4-ranked golfer in the world explained that his progression as an all-around golfer this season was something that he kept in the forefront of his mind even with all the talk of his earnings arose, like helping the European team defeat the United States' squad in the Ryder Cup.
Viktor Hovland spent his earnings in a very admirable way. (Photo by Elianto/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
"I feel like I've taken a big step to be able to win those events," Hovland continued. "So I'm thinking back to that stretch as, 'Man, I got a lot better this year and I was able to achieve some things that I wouldn't probably have done before.'
"So that's kinda how I'm sitting here and think about that. But obviously, the money's nice as well."
Hovland certainly has seen his earnings increase in recent years. From making £545,853 in 2019, his first year, his earnings in 2020 multiplied by four to £2,074,841.
Fast forward to 2023 and the 26-year-old saw his earnings skyrocket to a record £28 million, thanks to the bonus he received for clinching the FedEx Cup Playoffs title. Hovland won the PGA Tour Championship running away, with Xander Schauffle coming in second, five strokes back.
If Hovland's ascension in earnings and rankings throughout the years is any indication, 2024 could be another big and successful year for the Norwegian golfer.