Meet Ludvig Aberg, the European Ryder Cup wildcard dubbed ‘stud’ by team-mates who only turned pro three months ago
GOLF’S hottest prospect Ludvig Aberg is ready for his Ryder Cup debut just three months after turning professional.
The Swede has been handed a wildcard and will represent Europe at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.
AlamyLudvig Aberg is golf’s next big thing[/caption]
APAberg holding the European Masters trophy[/caption]
The Swede is a Ryder Cup wildcardSportsfile
Aberg first made waves at junior level but the huge Liverpool fan was initially not keen golf and had to be bribed to head to the course by his father offering him ice cream.
He soon impressed as a teenager and continued at amateur standard where he became world No1 and was the first man since Jon Rahm to pick up the prestigious Ben Hogan Award twice.
He wrapped up a decorate four-year spell at Texas Tech University by playing in the NCAA Championship and winning a trio of end of year awards.
Aberg wasted no time to impressing on the pro tour, immediately catching the eye of vice-captain Eduardo Molinari and captain Luke Donald and he was then picked for the Ryder Cup team.
The 23-year-old justified his selection at the BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth in mid-September, finishing joint-tenth with an impressive score of 12 under par.
Aberg partnered Viktor Hovland around the course and hit an impressive five birdies in a row and was in contention to win the event at one stage.
His stunning display got everyone talking with Hovland heaping praise onto him, saying: “He’s a stud and he’s going to do well in Italy in a couple of weeks.”
But the sport’s next big thing remained calm, responding: “By looks or what?
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APEurope’s Ludvig Aberg has never played a major but has impressed just months after turning pro[/caption]
AFPThe 23-year-old has been praised by Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald[/caption]
“I will take it as a compliment. I would imagine it means I’m playing good golf.”
Aberg admitted to nerves at Wentworth, saying: “This morning when I woke up I was quite nervous and it would have been weird if I wasn’t.
“I tried to embrace it, have fun with the crowds and enjoy it. But it is a bit nerve-racking.”
Despite his inexperience, Aberg has been backed by his team-mates to rise to the Ryder Cup challenge just how he has risen up the ranks throughout his career.
And the wonderkid dubbed “Ludde” impressed at Marco Simone during the opening practice session.
Aberg’s combination of power and accuracy sees him have the highest average drive length of all 24 players in both Europe and US teams this year.
And Rory McIlroy is among his fans, saying after practice with him: “I was on the bandwagon before, I’m certainly at the front of it now.”
As for captain Donald, he added: “He’s just getting on his road. He’s just starting to write his history. I think he’s a generational talent.
“They have a certain talent that you see them hit golf balls and you’re blown away, just by the different strike, the sound, the trajectory.”
Aberg is set to become the first ever player to feature in the Ryder Cup having not played in a major when the tournament gets underway on September 29.
Viktor Hovland called him a “stud”Sportsfile
