Viktor Hovland was born on September 18, 1997, in Oslo, Norway. He is a Norwegian national who began playing golf at a young age. Hovland moved to the United States for his college education, attending Oklahoma State University, where he had a standout collegiate career. He won the 2018 U.S. Amateur, which earned him invitations to prestigious tournaments, including the Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. His success in amateur golf set the stage for his transition to professional golf.