The juggernaut that is Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg is set to hit Augusta National and compete in his first major championship.
It’s crazy to think all that he has accomplished without having played in one of the big four tournaments of men’s professional golf. Aberg turned professional in 2023 after achieving the No. 1 player on the PGA Tour University Ranking. He lifted his first professional silverware in his sixth DP World Tour event. Aberg was named as one of European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald’s six captain’s picks, tabbling Aberg a ‘generational talent’ in the process. In being selected, Aberg was the first Ryder Cup player in history to have never played in a major championship. Then, after holding his own in Rome in helping the Euros win back the Cup, Aberg shot 61-61 on the weekend to win his first PGA Tour title at the RSM Classic. Heady stuff, and he hasn’t slowed down much this season, finishing second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, logging an eighth-place finish at the Players Championship in March and climbing into the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking. No Masters rookie has won the title since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 but few first-timers have made that inaugural trip down Magnolia Lane with so much anticipation as Aberg.
Ahead of the 88th Masters, Aberg participated in a wide-ranging Q&A through a partnership with Rolex (he became a Rolex testimonee last year) that touches on his earliest memory of the Masters, his favorite Masters moment and the best advice he’s been given, plus much, much more.
Ludvig Aberg of Sweden looks on with his caddie, Jack Clarke, from the seventh hole during a practice round prior to THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Ludvig: When I turned professional, I had obviously placed expectations on myself, but I think that I exceeded them quite quickly in terms of what we were able to do. It was a lot of fun, and it has opened a lot of doors in terms of the tournaments that I can play in the future and opportunities that I can pursue. It is important to me that I do not change, and that I still remain the person that I am. I think that this is what I try to stay very true to. Life on the golf course has changed and it’s all for the good, I think.
Team Europe golfer Ludvig Aberg (right) celebrates with vice-captain Francesco Molinari after a putt on the sixth green during day two foursomes round for the 44th Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
LA: I was super nervous. I remember that I teed off early at 7am. I didn’t sleep that much the night before as I remember I was quite nervous. It was something that I had been wanting to do for such a long time and longing to do and to be able to finally do that and I remember playing with Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton in the first round. It was the first real opportunity that I had to speak to them, and they were very good to me which made it a little easier. It was a dream come true and a memory that I will never forget.
Ludvig Aberg poses for a photo with the trophy after winning the 2023 RSM Classic on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Resort in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
LA: It was amazing and obviously a dream come true. What I think is very cool is that I was able to do this in my team’s backyard. This was one of the things that I was really happy about. I was able to play that tournament as an amateur and I have previously played a few amateur events at Sea Island Golf Club, so that place is very special to me. It was an amazing week and it was my last chance to get into the top 50 of the World Rankings, and I remembered that I wanted to do that before the New Year, so that I could qualify for The Masters. It was very satisfying to be able to do that when I knew I had to and then to obviously win the tournament in the way that I did was the icing on the cake.
Ludvig Aberg hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
LA: It is going to be nerve wracking and a lot of anticipation, a lot of nerves coming up, but I am super excited. I always think that those nerves are a good thing, a privilege to feel those nerves and I try to view it that way and I’m sure I’ll walk up on the first tee box and won’t be able to feel my legs, my arms and such things, but it’s also a dream come true and that’s what I’ll try to have in the back of my mind and something I have been wanting to do since the day I picked up a golf club when I was little. I honestly can’t wait for it.
Bubba Watson of the United States plays at a shot from the rough on second sudden death playoff hole on the 10th during the final round of the 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2012 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
LA: One of the memories that I have which stands out is when Peter Hanson was playing in the final group with Phil Mickelson and unfortunately, he didn’t play that well but he still finished third. I remember watching that and the playoff where Bubba Watson hit a hook from the trees and go on to win the playoff. These are two moments that really stand out for me.
Ludvig Aberg reacts to a missed putt on the 18th green during the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
LA: It will be a little bit different whether you like it or not. Obviously, it is a major championship, and I have never played in one, so that will be a new experience but I am sure that we will come up with a plan. There will be a lot of different emotions and things coming my way, but I will need to be okay with that, and dealing with being overwhelmed at times is going to be important for me. At the end of the day, it’s very easy to say but it is just golf, but luckily for me, that’s what I know best and I’ll try to keep it that way. What I really love about the game of golf is the history that comes with it and there is no other place better than that of Augusta in the world. That’s what’s going to be really cool for me, to go there and remember all of those iconic shots and what’s actually transpired on that golf course. That will be the most profound thing for me.
Ludvig Aberg hits his tee shot on the second hole during the third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
LA: I think that there are a lot of things that will suit my game. Off the tee is going to be really important to be able to curve the ball both ways with some of these tree lines. I think being good off the tee is important where you get a lot of chances coming into the greens, where I feel that this is one of my strengths. Then coming down to the last couple of holes where you do get some risk and reward holes, such as 13 and 15, where you can make a lot of birdies but you can also make a few high numbers. Those holes are going to be very important and I think that I am up for the challenge and am really excited about that.
Patrons cheer as Tiger Woods celebrates after sinking his putt on the 18th green to win the 2019 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images)
LA: When Tiger Woods won it in 2019. I remember watching it from home. I think when he hit his shot on 16 which was pretty close to a couple of feet and made the putt was obviously one of them. I am a big Tiger fan so that was cool to see him complete that come back.
I always remember watching the first tee shots when from Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player teed off together and that really resonates with the whole tournament and with the whole environment that they have created where it is very important to remember the history and to remember what the people before you have done. That is what really makes Augusta special.
Ludvig Aberg looks on from the fifth tee during the third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 13, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LA: Hans has taught me a lot of things, not only in terms of the game but also how you approach it. It is very difficult to pinpoint one specific thing. I believe that it is the manner in which you approach the game of golf and doing the things in the correct way and being respectful. In the end, people are going to remember you for the person you are as well as the way you play the game. The most important thing is the way that you approach and treat people in the way people are meant to be treated.
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