Coming off a runner-up finish in his Masters debut, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg looks to continue his strong play at this week’s RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about Hilton Head, the trickiness of the golf course, the angles you’ve got to work,” he told reporters Wednesday at Harbour Town Golf Links. “It’s a real Pete Dye course where you’ve got to place your tee balls and place your approach shots in the right spots, and I think that’ll be a challenge, but I’m up for it, and it’ll be really fun to play.”
Aberg, 24, certainly rose to the challenge in his first visit to Augusta National Golf Club, finishing four shots behind as World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler collected his second green jacket on Sunday.
As he did last week in Augusta, Ga., and at his previous first-time tour stops, Aberg said he absorbs as much as he can about a new course before Thursday rolls around. He also listens to advice from his coaches Peter Hanson and Hans Larsson and caddie Joe Skovron.
“It’s a challenge. It demands a little bit more of your time and effort Monday through Wednesday, I think,” Aberg said. “You have to make sure that you know the angles, especially on a golf course like this where there’s a little bit more to it.
“But I also — I trust my team. I trust my caddie a lot in those instances. He’s been around here quite a lot, and I’m leaning on him for all those kinds of informations. He tells me where to hit it, and I try to do that as good as I can.”
He admitted feeling much more butterflies at the Masters than during a regular PGA Tour event.
“Yeah, obviously I was super, super nervous,” Aberg said. “I think I was nervous the whole week, even when I was about to tee off in the practice rounds. I think those are always going to be there, which is OK. It’s all part of being human, I think, to feel those nerves.”
Aberg added, “Last week was unbelievable. You don’t really know what it’s going to be like until you actually play in your first major, especially it being the Masters.”
Aberg, who climbed from ninth to No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking this week, was asked about closing the gap with Scheffler.
“I just keep being me, keep making sure the things that I’m working on, they’re good, and I think as a golfer, it’s always going to be an endless challenge of trying to get a little bit better, whether it’s your putting or chipping or short game or hitting balls or whatever it is,” Aberg said.
“I think I’m always trying to make sure that the things that I’m working on are going in the right direction. Obviously I can’t do anything about Scottie. He’s an unbelievable player and a person, and I respect him so much.
“I think it’s good to have him here because he’s pushing everyone else to get a little bit better, as well.”
–Field Level Media
