Scottish Open: Ludvig Åberg not a no-name— well-liked PGA Tour stud

Ludvig Åberg has skyrocketed into stardom in the course of the previous 12 months. He’s not the Texas Tech no-name novice who was the primary to earn standing by way of the PGA Tour Univeristy program however an skilled winner.

The Swede gained the RSM Basic final November after taking part on a successful Ryder Cup crew.

He and Viktor Hovland traditionally destroyed World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in Saturday foursomes 9 & 7. His reputation grows by the day as the previous Texas Tech Pink Raider continues to play properly on the PGA Tour.

The Eslov, Sweden native will make his second begin this week on the Genesis Scottish Open. Nonetheless, he may have much more individuals following him all through the match than final yr.

“It feels somewhat bit completely different,” Aberg stated on Wednesday. “I’m extra accustomed to the golf equipment now and I do know somewhat bit extra what to anticipate and what’s happening.”

“I nonetheless really feel lucky to have the ability to play these occasions, and it’s been an ideal 12 months. If somebody advised me this could occur in 12 months, I’m undecided I might consider that man. Then again, I really feel like I’ve all the time had nice individuals round me, those that I belief, the those that helped me so much.”

Åberg made his skilled PGA Tour debut final yr on the Vacationers Championship. He completed T24 that week. From there, issues continued to occur for him.

By the top of final yr’s PGA Tour season, Åberg amassed a win, one runner-up end, 4 prime 10s and eight prime 25s. In 11 occasions, he made 10 cuts. The lone occasion the 24-year-old didn’t play the weekend was on the Genesis Scottish Open.

Åberg additionally recorded a DP World Tour victory on the Omega European Masters. That victory helped him obtain a choose from Group Europe’s captain, Luke Donald.

Photograph by Jamie Squire/Getty Pictures

Plenty of change occurred in his world over the previous 12 months, however Åberg continues to be extraordinarily humble about all of it. Irrespective of the end result on the course, he all the time desires to maintain his ardour alive and properly golf.

“I attempt to maintain onto that as firmly as I can as a result of it’s a completely different atmosphere taking part in golf right here and on Tour and I strive to not do it as my job,” he stated. “I simply wish to be that 16-year-old child that performs golf and completely loves it. So I attempt to maintain holding onto that, and I believe that’s crucial. However yeah I really feel very lucky to do that for a dwelling.”

His rookie marketing campaign was particular, however his sophomore season on the PGA Tour has not been disappointing.

He has made 14 begins and 13 cuts. Åberg already has two runner-up finishes, six Prime 10s and 10 Prime 25s.

A kind of second locations got here at Augusta Nationwide behind Scottie Scheffler in Åberg’s first main begin. He additionally captured a T12 at a tough Pinehurst No. 2 for the U.S. Open. Thus far, Åberg is 2-of-3 in majors, as his lone missed lower of the season got here at Valhalla Golf Membership for the PGA Championship.

The No. 4 participant on the earth sits within the sixth spot within the FedEx Cup rankings, placing him in a wonderful place to make it to Atlanta for the Tour Championship. Earlier than any playoff ideas can happen, he may have two weeks in Scotland to deal with.

Can he bounce again from lacking the lower on the Genesis Scottish Open and carry that momentum into the Open Championship subsequent week at Royal Troon? Åberg performs with Hideki Matsuyama and Collin Morikawa for the primary two days. They tee off at 8:43 a.m. ET for Spherical 1 and three:28 a.m. ET for Day 2.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may also comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.