Updated 09.09 | Published 08.57
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AUGUSTA. Ludvig Åberg’s success resonates in the golf world.
The Swedish shooting star is raised to the skies ahead of the major debut.
– He is a future world number one, says 2019 The Open winner Shane Lowry.
Augusta National Golf Club has opened its doors, and on Thursday the first major of the year will start.
In focus: A 24-year-old Swede from Eslöv.
No debutant has won The Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller did it in 1979, but many believe that Ludvig Åberg has what it takes to break the streak.
Just ask Shane Lowry, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson.
“Completely”
The aforementioned trio are full of admiration and already see Ludvig Åberg as a given title contender.
– He is already complete as a golfer. He has no weaknesses. Normally, it’s hard to point out who will succeed and who won’t, but when you see a guy like Ludvig, you just think: “He able to don’t miss!”. Nothing is stopping him from breaking through right away and winning a major. It could happen right now, says 2013 The Masters winner Adam Scott, 43, to The Guardian.
In the same article says Irishman Shane Lowry:
– Åberg is a future world number one. He’s the most impressive golfer I’ve seen since Rory (McIlroy).
Stenson impressed
Ludvig Åberg himself talks about “embracing the nerves” and notes that “it’s okay to be nervous”.
But when you follow the 24-year-old’s progress during the putting laps here at Augusta National, he doesn’t feel a bit nervous – rather, as calm and cool as possible.
Åberg not only has the game, but also the skull, in place.
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fullscreen chevron-rightnextLudvig Åberg at The Masters.
1 / 2Photo: Christer Höglund/TT
Henrik Stenson notes that.
– He is very mature for his age and does not get upset whether things are going well or badly, Stenson tells The Guardian.
Sweden’s first and so far only major winner on the men’s side believes that Ludvig Åberg has the potential to become one of our greatest athletes ever.
– Hockey, football and skiing are strongly rooted in Sweden, so golf is a little behind there. But it all depends on how dominant you become in your sport. If Ludvig would become as dominant as Björn Borg, Ingemar Stenmark or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but in golf, why couldn’t he become as great as them in that sense?
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full screen Henrik Stenson. Photo: Matthew Harris/AP
“Text messages sometimes”
During his press conference on Tuesday, Ludvig Åberg was asked if he has any relationship with Henrik Stenson and then replied that they “text each other sometimes”, and that it was Stenson he looked up to as a little boy.
– Stenson was the biggest we had when I was growing up and he is still the biggest. When he won the British Open … it should almost be a national holiday in Sweden, says Åberg.
Henrik Stenson won the British Open on 17 July 2016.
The question is what happens now on Sunday, April 14, 2024…
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full screen Photo: Christer Höglund/TTFAKTA
Selected start times, Thursday
At 16.30
Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap
At 16.42
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele
At 16.54
Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith
At 19.24
Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa
At 19.48
Jordan Spieth, Ludvig Åberg, Sahith Theegala
At 20.00
Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood
Read moreFACTS
Five hottest victory candidates
1) Scottie Scheffler, 27, USA
The world number one has been awfully good this season. Hits the ball better than everyone else and when he now also finds the right place on the greens after changing putters… well, then he sometimes feels as unstoppable as Tiger Woods did in his glory days.
2) Rory McIlroy, 34, Nordirland
Is it finally time for Rory to complete his “Career Grand Slam”? We ask ourselves that question every year, and every time the answer is no. Missed the cut here last time, but the feeling is that he is in better mental balance this time, compared to last year. Few, if any, have higher top tier.
3) Jon Rahm, 29, Spain
Won The Masters last year after sprinting past Brooks Koepka in Sunday’s finale. The form is more difficult to judge now that he is on the LIV tour, but in five competitions he has not been worse than eight. Has a very strong record at Augusta.
4) Xander Schauffele, 30, USA
One of the PGA Tour’s best players who has yet to win a major. Obviously in good shape. Looking at the scoring average (69.9) and strokes gained (+1.93) statistics, only Scottie Scheffler has been better this season.
5) Brooks Koepka, 33, USA
Subscribed to major titles a few years ago before injuries stopped. Came close to winning here last year, but folded on Sunday. Learn to be good at revenge now.
Outsider: Ludvig Åberg, 24, Sweden
The last time a debutant won The Masters was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, but Ludvig Åberg is not just any debutant. No stage feels too big for the Swedish sensation, who just continues to exceed all expectations.
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