Hovland holds nerve to take Hero World Challenge title

Norway's Viktor Hovland brilliantly held his nerve to see off a spirited challenge from Scottie Scheffler and successfully defend his Hero World Challenge title in the Bahamas.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

Hovland was in danger of squandering a two-shot lead on the final hole when he pulled his second shot from an awkward lie on the edge of a bunker into the water, but the Ryder Cup star got up and down to salvage an unlikely bogey.

Scheffler also bogeyed the 18th after his chip from a waste bunker caught the edge of the hole and ran 15 feet past, leaving Hovland to celebrate an unexpectedly dramatic two-shot win on 16-under-par.

Shane Lowry closed with a one-under 71 to finish 18th of the 20-man field on five-over-par.

"It made it a little bit exciting I guess."

Speaking to NBC after his closing 69, Hovland said: "It's freaking nerve-racking. I was leading by five I think after the turn and didn't play all that great on the back nine but it was good enough. It made it a little bit exciting I guess."

Scheffler, who needed to win to reclaim top spot in the world rankings from Rory McIlroy, momentarily held a share of the lead when he followed birdies on the second and fourth by chipping in for eagle on the sixth.

However, playing partner Hovland holed from 20 feet on the same hole to edge back in front and Scheffler's hopes looked to have disappeared with a bogey on the seventh and double bogey on the par-five ninth.

Scheffler refused to thrown in the towel and the Masters champion birdied the 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th to keep the pressure on, pressure which almost paid off on the 18th.

Hovland joins tournament host Tiger Woods (2006-07) as the only players to win back-to-back titles in the limited-field event.

"That's pretty bad-ass," Hovland