Viktor Hovland doesn’t hold back on his criticism of long par-3s on the PGA Tour “It gets a little silly”

The game of golf is constantly evolving but those changes aren’t always for the better.

That was the topic of conversation for PGA Tour star Viktor Hovland on Tuesday as he reflected on the recent trend of longer par-3s. Some of the most iconic par-3 holes in the world - like the 123-yard ‘Postage Stamp’ at Royal Troon - test players with fiendish layouts, rather than outright length.

When asked about this trend, Hovland admitted that he were prefer to see shorter par-3s on the tour.

“It just becomes hard,” he explained. “I don’t think that it’s that great. When you have to make a hole that long it just becomes.. you have a certain target and you just have to hit a shot around there.

“Shorter par-3s entice you to get close to it, but if you’re a little bit off then you’re in the water or on a short-sided spot. If you bail out you still have a tricky little putt. I just think all the best par-3s are under 200 [yards].”

“You could have it just over 200, but as soon as you start to take head covers off on a par-3 I just think it gets a little silly.”

Currently there are a number of par-3 holes on the PGA Tour that are well in excess of 200 yards, and one is a whopping 300 yards.

That is the 8th at Oakmont Country Club, the venue for the 2008 US Open. Links Magazine found that players only hit the green in regulation 27% of the time. When Johnny Miller set the course record there it was the only hole that he bogeyed en route to a course record 63, requiring three putts to sink it.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.