Ludvig Åberg has gone from faculty star to one in every of golf’s greatest names in lower than two years, with the pace of the Swede’s meteoric rise even taking him unexpectedly.
Åberg received on each the DP World Tour and PGA Tour inside months of turning skilled in June 2023, the identical 12 months he impressed on his Ryder Cup debut, whereas the 25-year-old’s newest success got here at an occasion hosted by one in every of his childhood idols.
4 birdies within the final six holes gave Åberg a one-shot victory on the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational earlier this month, hosted by Tiger Woods’ basis, with the most recent win lifting him to a brand new career-high of fourth within the newest world rankings.
“A couple of years ago, this [success] wasn’t really on the frame of my mind,” Åberg advised Sky Sports activities within the days after his Genesis Invitational victory. “I didn’t think I was going to be here this quick.
“In case you had requested me if I had the skills to take action, then yeah, most likely, however most likely not this fast!”
Åberg’s dramatic win was in stark distinction to his look at Torrey Pines a month earlier, when he fell down the leaderboard over the weekend on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open after a violent abdomen bug.
And event host Woods was among the many first to congratulate him.
“It was really cool,” Åberg defined. “It was unfortunate that we couldn’t be at Riviera, as I love Riviera, but I probably love Torrey Pines equally as much. With Tiger and how many times he won at Torrey, probably eight times, it means a lot.
“He means so much to me and to our sport, so to hold that trophy next to him was really cool. I have that picture of the two of us saved in my phone and I think I’m going to be looking at that for quite some time!”
Åberg instantly travelled from San Diego to Florida after his victory for back-to-back TGL matches a day later, serving to The Bay Golf Membership to 2 wins, earlier than spending three days with coach Hans Larsson to arrange for the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing.
“It has been quite busy,” Åberg defined. “We planned from way back that he was going to stay and we were going to do some practice days after the TGL. It was sort of back-on-the-horse-again training and practising, which was fun.
“I’ll go away the golf equipment within the closet for a few days. Me and my girlfriend are going away to a bit of retreat place for an evening, in order that will likely be good. Apart from that, it is type of attempting to arrange for the following event.
“Bay Hill is arising fairly fast, so we will attempt to be prepared for that. I do respect the time at dwelling. I feel it is very nice. I am not an incredible celebrator, so I might need a few glasses of wine. I feel that will likely be it, although!
Early momentum for Europe in Ryder Cup 12 months?
Åberg’s victory continued a wave of early-season European success on the PGA Tour, following Sepp Straka’s win at The American Specific, Rory McIlroy’s two-shot victory over Shane Lowry on the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am and a breakthrough title for Thomas Detry on the WM Phoenix Open.
“I think it’s great,” stated Åberg, who made his Ryder Cup debut for Europe of their 2023 victory in Rome. “It speaks about qualities of the European side and I think Luke is going to be pretty pleased when he sees European success on the PGA Tour and the European Tour.
“I feel you type of anticipate Rory to play effectively and him to win tournaments. I performed Tom [Detry] for the primary two days at Torrey – he is an awesome participant and I feel he’ll be a pressure this 12 months on the PGA Tour.
“I think it [European success] is great for everyone and hopefully we can sort of keep that going and have some momentum going into the Ryder Cup.”
Augusta on the thoughts for Åberg?
Åberg will look to problem for a maiden main title in 2025 forward of a possible second successive Ryder Cup look, a 12 months on from ending runner-up to Scottie Scheffler in his main debut at The Masters.
“It was really cool and an unbelievable experience, having a chance to win at the end,” Åberg stated about final 12 months’s Augusta debut. “I feel coming again, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how I really feel.
“I think I will be really excited and I think it will be really cool to live those moments again, some of the putts I made and shots that I made.
“On the similar time, I will be attempting to handle the expectations of getting ready for a standard event and ensure that I’m prepared. Make certain I do not skip something and do all the things I can so as to be as prepared as I can.
“Every time you play Augusta or be on the grounds, it is such a special place and I am sure I will be really excited.”
Watch Ludvig Åberg in motion all through the 2025 PGA Tour season dwell on Sky Sports activities. Åberg is again in motion on the Arnold Palmer Invitational – watch dwell from March 6-9 on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.