It’s hard not to equate Hovland’s resurgence with his return to swing coach Joe Mayo. Hovland had Mayo by his side for the entirety of the 2022-23 season. They shared a similar golf obsession and Mayo knew the exact buttons to push to unlock Hovland’s best performance, starting with his short game. Mayo radically changed Hovland’s form, convincing him to hit down on the ball more steeply even though it goes against today’s teaching du jour. Mayo also helped improve Hovland’s full swing, recommending he move his chest faster through impact, which tightened his dispersion. It led to three wins, a FedExCup title and Hovland’s best major finish, a T2 at the 2023 PGA Championship. Yet, over the offseason, Hovland chose to part ways. As good as his season was, his internal barometer told him it was unsustainable.