‘You can’t fake it’: Ludvig Aberg is ready for the TPC Sawgrass test
2024 will be another year of firsts for Ludvig Aberg with his much-anticipated Players Championship debut around the corner…
Ludvig Aberg is under no illusions ahead of his debut at The Players Championship.
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.
“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 18.
“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 looking forward to a year of firsts
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 awaits Aberg at Ponte Vedra Beach.
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 has never stepped into before.
He no longer flies under the radar. Aberg’s quality is far from a secret now and it is events such as The 50th 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 added.
“But I do feel like the experiences I’ve been giving myself over these last couple of months have been so great, and I haven’t played in the majors still, so that’ll be a first as well.
“We’ll see how that plays out, but all in all, I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and I think it’s going to be awesome. I just really enjoy being out here playing. It’s my job these days.”
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
