Viktor Hovland sets record breaking round at the BMW Championship on the eve of the Ryder Cup

Norwegian Viktor Hovland shot a course record 61 at Olympia Fields to claim the BMW Championship by two strokes.

Hovland birdied seven of the last nine holes, soaring past overnight leaders Matt Fitzpatrick and Scottie Scheffler to claim his maiden BMW Championship.

After shooting the course record of 61, Hovland claimed a winners check of $3.6 million, finishing on -17 across the four days.

According to bbc.co.uk, Hovland said: "It has to be my number one [round of his career], I shot seven under at Torrey Pines when it was hailing and windy and raining, and that's probably the best I've ever struck it throughout a round."

"But to shoot 61 and shoot 28 on the back nine at this golf course and under the circumstances, I have nothing that beats that."

The BMW Championship is the final round of the season-ending FedEx Playoffs, consisting of the top 50 in the FedEx Tour Rankings.

The top 30 at the BMW Championship have qualified for this week's tour finale in Atlanta, with some players still chasing that elusive Ryder Cup spot.

After this week's Tour Championship ends, Hovland will turn his attention to the Ryder Cup, starting at the end of September in Rome, Italy.

The Norwegian has already earned his selection for the European Team, joining Rory McIlroy and John Rahm as the only other players to do so.

The top three in World Points and European Points automatically earn their spots in the team, with Hovland coming third in the World Points category.

The Norwegian has 321.67 World Points, beating out Tyrrell Hatton in fourth, who has 199.17 points in the world this year.

Hovland will be making his second Ryder Cup appearance and first in Europe after competing at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, in 2021.

In his opening Ryder Cup, the US team dominated Team Europe, winning 19-9, and Hovland finished 0-3-2, tying his Sunday singles match with Colin Morikawa.

With the confidence he should take from his final round at the BMW Championship, Hovland will be in a different mind frame for his second Ryder Cup visit.

As well as McIlroy, Hovland, Rahm, Robert Macintyre, Tyrrell Hatton, and Tommy Fleetwood are expected to join the team as automatic picks.

According to espn.com, Hovland said: "Obviously this week and having a chance to contend in those major championships. I think I've taken a big step this year compared to other years."