Viktor Hovland wants Scotland to row with Norway

Erling Haaland and company have been one of the standout stories of the ongoing men's football World Cup held across the United States, Mexico and Canada, upsetting five-time winners Brazil along the way in the last-16.

Victory has been followed by both players and fans doing a rowing celebration to a beating drum, a reflection on the country's viking heritage which has gone viral around the world.

Next up for Norway is a quarter-final against England on Saturday night and the Scandinavian underdogs are likely to have plenty of support from the fans at the Genesis Scottish Open as they take on the host nation's 'Auld Enemy'.

"Let's do it on Sunday," said Hovland, who attended Norway's 3-2 group stage win over Senegal alongside countryman and fellow DP World Tour and PGA TOUR winner Kristoffer Reitan. "That would be great. First tee, we're doing the rowing.

"I've done some rowing. Every Norwegian has to do at least a few rows out there. No, it's pretty cool. It's a cool thing that is really taking over the Internet and gone viral.

"I've always been watching the Norway games. I'm not a big football fan in general. I don't really keep up. I don't know any of the players. But obviously it's pretty patriotic to watch.

"And when I was at home, last game... just like sitting on the veranda watching the game, you can hear the screams from downtown, like there's 100,000 people in the city just cheering and rooting for Norway. It's really cool to see that energy and you really feel it.

"So just to be a part of that is culturally just really cool. I think Norway really needed something like this to happen. So that's really cool to be a part of and I'm going to watch the next page, that's for sure. But I'm in no position to give any sort of prediction but I really hope our country wins for sure.

And he joked of the English players in the field at The Renaissance Club: "I feel like it's a very sensitive subject for them, so it might cut a little too deep there if I push too hard. But yeah, I hope they lose and come crying out on Sunday morning."

Inside the ropes, Hovland will go in hunt of a second Rolex Series title full of confidence after a stunning play-off victory over World Number One Scottie Scheffler at the PGA TOUR's Travelers Championship last time out.