Viktor Hovland is on course to become the first Norwegian winner in European Tour history after a brilliant eight-under par round of 64 gave him a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the BMW International.
The world No. 14 signed for a 68 on day one despite finding the water three times and since then he has not looked back, adding a 67 and a bogey-free effort 64 to get to 17-under par at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried in Munich.
Spaniard Jorge Campillo is his closest challenger at 14-under after a 67, one shot clear of South African Darren Fichardt and three ahead of Irishman Niall Kearney and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger.
Hovland already has two wins on the PGA Tour and is currently 12th in the Race to Dubai rankings, having finished second at the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession and sixth at the Saudi International.
That form on both sides of the Atlantic makes him a strong favourite to become the first Norwegian to play in the Ryder Cup in September — but he will be looking to enter the history books before that in Bavaria.
Sweden’s Vincent Norrman had a day to remember as he made his professional debut on the European Tour, holing a three wood from 270 yards on the par four 16th for a hole-in-one albatross.
“Growing up I mainly watched the European Tour every Saturday and Sunday morning,” said Hovland. “That was my routine. We’ve had some runner-up finishes in the past, but it would be really cool for Norway to get our first (European Tour) win.
“It’s a great course, if you pull off the shots you can make some eagles and some really easy birdies, but there is water around and if you don’t pull the shot off you can easily make a bogey. I’ve pulled off the shots more than I haven’t bit even the few times I’ve hit it into the water I’ve managed to make some good pars and keep things going. I like to play aggressive and make as many birdies as I can.
“I just try to stay within myself. Obviously, I look at leaderboards to see where I’m at, but instead of trying to force things, I just tell myself at the start of the day just to take control of my own game. If I don’t waste shots here and there, just play smart, trust that I’m doing the right things, I think I should have a really good shot tomorrow.”
