Ludvig Aberg was under no illusions ahead of his debut at The Players Championship in 2024.
Trouble lurks at every turn at TPC Sawgrass, especially in the brutal closing three-hole stretch which the Swede considers “the best finish in golf.”
The Floridian weather has wreaked havoc in recent years at The Players, adding another variable to what is already a tough track where the difficulty is epitomised by the famous par-3 17th hole and its treacherous island green.
Despite his class and vertical career trajectory, Aberg is aware of the minimal margin for error at one of the PGA Tour’s most revered venues. He came outright eighth on his debut in Ponte Vedra, another feather to his young yet wise cap.
“It’s one of the events you look forward to and circle on the calendar,” he told NCG.
“I was fortunate to play the junior Players a couple of years ago and that gave me a little bit of a taste as to what it feels like, and obviously, the Stadium Course at Sawgrass is one of the most iconic golf courses in the game.
“There are a lot of holes that stand out. 16 is one of them coming down (the closing stretch). It is arguably the best finish in golf with 16, 17, and 18.
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“A lot can happen and if you want to win the tournament, you’ve got to hit some shots, which is what you want in the last couple of holes.
“You can’t fake it around there, so that’s what I’m looking forward to, so it’ll be a good test and a lot of fun.”
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Ludvig Aberg: PGA Tour star impressed during a year of firsts in 2024
After winning for the first time on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in 2023 and making his first start for Europe at the Ryder Cup, another new experience awaited Aberg at Ponte Vedra Beach.
Two rounds of 67 at the weekend meant Aberg surged into the top 10 and made an impressive start to what will likely be a long career of visiting Sawgrass.
It is the PGA Tour’s flagship event held on the same site at its headquarters. Often touted as the sport’s fifth major, the winner’s list since its birth in 1974 mirrors Augusta National’s hall of honour.
Anticipation for the Masters often follows the conclusion of The Players’ final round and the majors constitute another world that Aberg had never stepped into before.
He came second on his Masters debut in 2024 and a disappointing weekend defied promise at the US Open at Pinehurst where he came tied for 12th.
He no longer flies under the radar. Aberg’s quality is far from a secret now and it is events such as The Players where golf fans will expect his potential to produce trophies.
“For me, a lot of these tournaments I play, it’s the first time I’ll play them,” he said.
“But I do feel like the experiences I’ve been giving myself over these last couple of months have been so great.
“We’ll see how that plays out – I just really enjoy being out here playing. It’s my job these days.”
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