Case Study: Golf Magazine Cover with Viktor Hovland

After years of shooting for Golf Magazine, I had created a wide range of editorial content—but one milestone had eluded me: a cover. I had made my case more than a few times, so when one of my favorite photo editors, Nancy Jo Iacoi, called me out of the blue, I knew something was up.

“Hey Chris, I’ve got a great cover for you. Can you hop on a plane and head to Stillwater, Oklahoma? Oh, and it’s in three days…”

Stillwater isn’t exactly a production hub, so I quickly mobilized my team. I called on one of my trusted assistants in Dallas to bring in gear, and my lead assistant in Florida flew out with me to handle the shoot. We were heading to Karsten Creek Golf Club—the legendary home of Oklahoma State’s storied NCAA golf program—for a feature with rising PGA star Viktor Hovland.

Scouting & Prep

We landed in Tulsa and made the drive to Stillwater, arriving just in time to scout the course and clubhouse. Karsten Creek is steeped in history—trophies, portraits, and the legacy of countless greats line the walls. We were granted full access to the grounds and clubhouse, and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming.

Shoot Day

Viktor arrived at 8 a.m. sharp, full of energy and good humor. He was still living at Karsten Creek post-graduation and brought that laid-back, fresh-out-of-college vibe to the shoot. We immediately clicked—talking about Norway (a country I’ve visited and love), music, and trading jokes between takes.

We started outside on a tee box, hoping the looming rain would hold off. The skies stayed overcast but dry—perfect for our hybrid lighting setup. We kept it simple: a Profoto bi-tube strobe through a large octa bank to blend with ambient light. Overhead rigs weren’t needed thanks to the soft cloud cover. I always say: bring more lighting than you think you’ll need—dialing down is easy, but you can’t fake power when you don’t have it.

With no strict time crunch, we moved from hole to hole, changing outfits and setups along the way. Viktor was game for anything, and that gave us the creative flexibility to explore a lot of looks.

The Cover Shot

Ironically, the image that became the cover wasn’t from one of our hero setups on the course. It came after lunch, inside the clubhouse. We were shooting in the trophy hallway and locker room when I noticed a small porch off to the side—beautifully lit, softly shaded.

Once the video team wrapped up nearby, I asked Viktor if he’d give me one more quick shot. He didn’t hesitate. We stepped outside with just a bounce card to lift the shadows under his cap. He leaned casually on the stone railing, and we captured a series of natural light portraits in under 10 minutes.

That simple, spontaneous moment turned out to be the winner. It just goes to show—sometimes the most relaxed setups create the most intimate and authentic results.

Aftermath

That night, the team celebrated with dinner and drinks in Stillwater, a quirky college town with plenty of charm. Then it was back to Tulsa and home the next day—grateful to my crew, to Viktor, and to Bolt for getting us the gear in time.

The shoot marked my first cover for Golf Magazine—a milestone I won’t forget. Viktor went on to have an incredible season, winning the PGA Tour Championship, the FedEx Cup, and the Ryder Cup alongside Ludvig Åberg (who, funnily enough, I also later photographed for another cover). I like to joke that our good vibes on that porch in Stillwater kicked off his hot streak.