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PALM BEACH GARDENS — Ludvig Aberg knew the best way to get through two TGL matches Monday that started less than 24 hours after cementing his spot as a prodigy on the PGA Tour.
Coffee. And plenty of it.
Aberg was seen holding a cup while being interviewed on ESPN soon after arriving at the SoFi Center. And he said he may need two more cups between The Bay Golf Club’s back-to-back matches against Atlanta Drive and Boston Common. The Bay (3-0) won them both by one point.
This after admitting he had “a lot of coffee” Monday morning as he tried to find the energy for The Bay’s doubleheader.
“I’d like to think I’m young,” Aberg said.
At 25, not much to think about. Unless, of course, you check out what this Swede is accomplishing on the golf course.
Because Aberg is starting to defy his age.
Aberg’s win Sunday at the Genesis Invitational outside of San Diego was his third worldwide since turning pro two years ago, a resume that also includes a runner-up at the 2024 Masters and being a part of the 2023 European Ryder Cup team.
But the highlight (so far), is the one-shot win over Maverick McNealy Sunday — and $4 million payday — that vaulted him to No. 4 in the world ranking.
From Genesis to TGL in less than 24 hours
The champagne barely had enough time to dry before Aberg hopped a plane for the cross-country flight Sunday from San Diego to Palm Beach County. He got to bed about 3:30 a.m.
Talk about a turnaround.
“I’m still sort of in that competitive mindset,” Aberg said just before the first match. “It wasn’t that long ago we played the last hole.”
The first match was against Atlanta and Lucas Glover, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay, who have seen enough of Aberg. All three were among those who were around during the weekend at Torrey Pines to watch Aberg put on a show down the stretch with four birdies in the final six holes to win by a stroke.
They were still trying to figure out how to beat the rising star a day later. But all they had was sarcasm.
“Glad you finally won something,” Thomas said to Aberg after losing to him twice in 24 hours. “Happy for you.”
“Ludvig’s pretty good at golf,” Glover said. “Shame he’s not handsome, too. He’s got nothing going for him.”
Glover got to see the rising start up close a year ago when they were paired at the Genesis at Riviera Country Club.
“I was impressed as I’ve ever been watching anybody,” Glover said. “I told him after, more for his demeanor and his composure than his game. It’s impressive to watch somebody that young with that much game and that much success already and still do it with his humility and grace.”
High praise from a 24-year Tour veteran who’s scheduled to make his 550th PGA Tour start at next week’s Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.
And then there was this from Tiger Woods, who hosted the Genesis but withdrew following the death of his mother, Kultida. Last month, Tiger stood behind Aberg watching him hit shots before a TGL match.
Ludvig Aberg gets high praise from Tiger Woods
The man who has 15 major championships and is considered one of the two greatest ever to play the game was in awe.
“Not a whole lot can go wrong with it,” Tiger said about Aberg’s swing.
Aberg’s response Sunday after Tiger presented him with the trophy.
“Tiger’s the GOAT. He’s my GOAT.”
During The Bay’s second match of the day, against Boston Common, Aberg faced Rory McIlroy in singles and hit a 360-yard drive on the 535-yard, par-4 11th hole before winning the hole with a 15-foot putt.
Aberg was asked to compare the feeling to the one he had Sunday when he clinched his first signature event by making a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 18.
“Very similar,” said Aberg, who recently moved from Tallahassee to Ponte Vedra Beach. “You have the same emotions kind of running through your mind. And we’re all competitors, and six of the best players in the world are on the green, and you don’t really want to mess up, especially not with your teammates being around you who are playing good golf.”
During the match against Boston Common, Aberg’s teammate, Shane Lowry, was asked about The Bay’s strategy.
“We’re just going to let him be himself,” he said, pointing to Aberg.
Good strategy.
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tiger Woods, TGL opponents impressed with Ludvig Aberg
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