Heavy rain delayed the start of play on the final day by two hours, and it was Hovland who jumped out of the blocks best when the players got underway on the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleon Golf Club.

Four birdies in his first six holes gave the former US Amateur champion a two shot lead with nine holes to play, before a bogey at the par-4 12th gave the large chasing pack a chance, with Hovland’s fellow PGA Tour winner Aaron Wise looking the mostly likely to steal away victory.

Hovland immediately gained back the shot he lost at the next hole, which was followed by another birdie at 14 and a par save at the par-4 16th, having found the waste area with his second shot.

With Wise unable to convert birdie opportunities at the closing two holes, the result was left in Hovland’s hands. The Norwegian rolled in a birdie from 12 feet at the 72nd hole to reach 20-under par and claim a one-shot win, despite feeling the pressure of the situation.

“I was pretty nervous throughout the day even though I hit a lot of good shots and made some birdies." – Viktor Hovland

“I was pretty nervous throughout the day even though I hit a lot of good shots and made some birdies,” Hovland said after the round.

“I was lucky enough to get an exemption here in 2018, first PGA Tour event. Was really nervous, maybe even more nervous than I was making that putt on 18. I missed the cut by a shot there. The next year I come back, first time as a pro, missed the cut by a shot. So it's nice to come back here the third time and get the win to kind of get some revenge for the first two times.”

Hovland, whose caddie is Aussie Shay Knight, was already guaranteed a spot in Maui at the Tournament of Champions via his win in Puerto Rico earlier this year and will also tee it up at Augusta National in April, having missed out on this year’s event.

None of the four Australians teeing it up this week, Marc Leishman, Cameron Percy, Rhein Gibson and Aaron Baddeley, made the weekend in Mexico.