Hovland goes from winning Memorial to caddying in US Open qualifier

Viktor Hovland carries the bag of Zach Bauchou during U.S. Open qualifying at Brookside Golf & Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, Monday, June 5, 2023. One day after Hovland won the Memorial Tournament and a $3.6 million prize, he caddied 36 holes for his former Oklahoma State teammate. (AP Photo/Doug Ferguson) (Doug Ferguson, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

COLUMBUS, Ohio ā€“ Viktor Hovland didn't have much time to celebrate the biggest win of his career. One day after winning the Memorial, he went 36 holes as a caddie in U.S. Open qualifying Monday.

Hovland, who won in a playoff Sunday at Muirfield Village and earned $3.6 million, was on the bag for Zach Bauchou, his former roommate at Oklahoma State.

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This was not planned all that far in advance.

ā€œWe went to dinner on Saturday and I jokingly said, ā€˜Why donā€™t you come caddie on Monday?' He said, ā€˜Dude, I will.ā€™ If he says he's going to do something, he'll do it,ā€ Bauchou said.

Hovland was one shot out of the lead at the Memorial on Saturday. He closed with a 2-under 70 and then won with a par in the playoff over Denny McCarthy.

Hovland declined to be interviewed. He had a dozen or so people following at Brookside Golf & Country Club, some of them taking video of the No. 5 player in the world ranking a bunker or tending the flag.

When the long day was over, Hovland ā€” the carry bag still slung over his shoulder ā€” stopped and posed for photos with some of the spectators.

Bauchou failed to qualify, posting a 72 at The Lakes Golf & Country Club and making only one birdie in his round of 76 at Brookside.

They were teammates in 2018 ā€” Bauchou is one year ahead ā€” when Oklahoma State won the NCAA title with a team that also included Matthew Wolff and Austin Eckroat. Bauchou, who is playing mini-tours this year, said they were roommates from Hovland's freshman year.

Hovland, a 25-year-old from Norway, still lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Without the Memorial champion living up to his word, Bauchou said he would have carried his own bag.

ā€œIt was nice to have him come out and caddie,ā€ Bauchou said. ā€œHe's been a good friend for a long time. He's a good person.ā€

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


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