Ludvig Åberg Makes an Impact at the Ryder Cup

Ludvig Åberg, who recently graduated from Texas Institute of Technology, turned professional just a few months ago. Despite his short career, he played a crucial role in helping Europe reclaim the Ryder Cup.

Two years back in Rome, Captain Luke Donald took a chance on the young Swede, and it really paid off. Åberg, alongside Viktor Hovland, delivered an emotional victory against Scotty Scheffler and five-time champion Brooks Koepka, winning with an impressive margin of 9 & 7—the largest in Ryder Cup history.

“Looking back, the main takeaway from those days, especially that morning, was realizing, yeah, I could really do this,” Åberg shared on Wednesday.

Now at 25, he’s enjoyed success with two PGA Tour wins and notable performances at the Masters. He feels much readier this time around.

“The last two years have been quite a whirlwind for me,” Åberg reflected. “I look back at Rome with a smile, but I’ve gained a better understanding of what to expect in the team room.”

“Before Rome, I didn’t even know any of these guys. I had never met them or had a simple chat.”

This year, the European team is almost the same as the one that triumphed in Rome, boasting 11 of the same players. The only difference? Rasmus Hojgaard has taken the place of his twin brother, Nikolai, which, yes, has led to some amusing mix-ups.

“Shane [Lowry] sometimes calls me ‘Nikolai’ and then realizes, ‘Oh, Rasmus is here.’ I’m used to it by now. Twenty years of this has made me pretty adaptable!” he laughed.

In light of recent events, Ryder Cup officials announced heightened security measures due to President Trump’s attendance. With the president also at the US Open Men’s Tennis Final, the match started about 37 minutes late, leaving many fans outside waiting for security clearance.

Over 50,000 fans are expected on the opening day of the Ryder Cup, starting with the foursomes at 7:10 a.m., followed by the four-ball sessions at 12:25 p.m. Ticket holders will be allowed in starting from the gates opening.

“We strongly encourage ticket holders to arrive early and plan for extra time,” the US PGA advised. “There will be TSA-style screening at the entrance and around the clubhouse, including adjacent grandstands. Anyone leaving these secured areas will need to be screened again to re-enter.”