Frustrated Hovland plummets down leaderboard: 'Is it possible?'

Viktor Hovland's frustration boiled over during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first event in the PGA Tour Playoffs. After starting the day in contention, the Norwegian golfer saw his aspirations falter on a challenging Saturday in Memphis.

"Is it possible to hit those shots there, or?!" Hovland exclaimed, followed by curses and a kick of his golf bag, after his tee shot on the 15th hole. The outburst came after a round that saw him finish two strokes over par, pushing him down to a tie for 10th place heading into the final round.

Hovland had been playing well early in the round, making birdies on the first two holes and briefly sharing the lead with world number one Scottie Scheffler. However, his momentum shifted dramatically on the back nine. A bogey on the 9th and 10th holes, followed by a birdie on the 11th, offered a glimmer of hope, but the 12th hole proved disastrous.

On the 12th, Hovland hit his tee shot into the water, and his subsequent drop shot went out of bounds. This led to a double bogey. Further bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes, the latter prompting his outburst, capped a difficult stretch. Despite a birdie on the 16th, Hovland's round included four birdies, four bogeys, and one double bogey.

He now sits six strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler, facing an uphill battle in the final round of the playoff opener. The tournament is being broadcast on Eurosport Norge and HBO Max.