ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Ludvig Åberg had a pair of two-putt birdies, considered one of them on a par 4, and stored bogeys off his card for the second straight day for a 6-under 64 on Friday to take a one-shot lead into the weekend on the RSM Traditional.
Within the closing match of the longest PGA Tour season, Åberg will attempt to finish his brief 12 months with victories on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. He already gained the European Masters in Switzerland, a efficiency that secured his spot on Europe’s successful Ryder Cup workforce.
Not unhealthy for a 24-year-old Swede who solely turned professional in June. Not stunning, both.
“I do know my capabilities and I do know my strengths,” mentioned Åberg, who completed at Texas Tech this spring and earned a PGA Tour card because the No. 1 participant within the PGA Tour College rating. “But in addition, to have the ability to do it this rapidly, most likely not. It’s been a lot enjoyable.
“I nonetheless pinch myself within the morning at any time when I get up that I truly get to do that for a dwelling, nevertheless it’s actually cool and I’m wanting ahead to a bunch of years forward of me.”
For now, he has 36 holes on the wind-blown Seaside course at Sea Island Golf Membership, and a number of gamers proper behind him, every going through numerous ranges of strain.
Åberg performed the host Seaside course Friday and was at 11-under 131, one shot forward of Eric Cole (66 at Seaside), Denny McCarthy (65 at Seaside) and Sam Ryder (67 at Plantation).
Matt Kuchar, who had a 4-under 68 on the Plantation course, was amongst these two behind.
2024 PGA Tour playing cards and signature-event begins shall be finalized this week.
A victory would transfer Åberg into the highest 60 within the FedExCup, ship him to Maui to start out the brand new season at Kapalua and get him into the primary two $20 million signature occasions at Pebble Seaside and Riviera. He additionally would get into the Masters.
He nonetheless has to determine a schedule as a joint member of the PGA Tour and European tour, though his intention is to spend most of his time in America.
This PGA Tour season started in September 2022, making it 15 months lengthy as a result of the Tour is switching again to a calendar 12 months. The stakes are excessive for numerous gamers, as the highest 125 within the FedExCup safe full playing cards for subsequent 12 months.
Andrew Novak is at No. 124 and was outdoors the minimize line till he ran off three birdies on the again 9 at Plantation. He completed with a bogey and made the minimize on the quantity, at the least getting an opportunity to safe his job over the subsequent 36 holes.
Ryan Moore is at No. 128. He additionally was outdoors the minimize line till 4 birdies in a five-hole stretch on the again 9 at Seaside. His bogey on the 18th gave him a 67 to make the minimize with one shot to spare, and now it’s in his fingers.
Åberg displaying off elite driver at RSM Traditional
The Golf Central crew marvels at Ludvig Åberg, considered one of golf’s rising stars who’s displaying off his elite driving capability on the RSM Traditional, the place he sits atop the leaderboard after Spherical 2.
Not so lucky had been Henrik Norlander and Ryan Palmer, each outdoors the highest 125 and each lacking the minimize. Palmer at the least has restricted standing on Tour as a previous champion.
The minimize was at 4-under 138.
Additional up the leaderboard, Ryder has an opportunity to maneuver into the highest 60 with a excessive end, which might make him eligible for the $20 million occasions in California, large cash and elevated FedExCup factors.
He surged into rivalry by enjoying the final 5 holes in 5 underneath, capping the stretch with a 3-iron to 50 ft and an eagle putt up a ridge for his 65.
“That’s actually what propelled me by the autumn,” Ryder mentioned of the prospect to get into the highest 60. “My aim has been to attempt to have fall and play my manner into the primary couple signature occasions. I really feel prefer it’s simply going to be a very good method to begin the 12 months.”
Åberg seems to be like he’s simply getting began on a giant profession. He had three straight birdies on the entrance 9, beginning with a giant drive on the 394-yard fifth gap when he minimize the nook of a marsh and wound up 45 ft away on the inexperienced.
Two holes later, reached the par-5 seventh in two for a birdie, and he added couple of birdies from the 12-foot vary on the again 9.
“I really feel like I’ve been putting the ball fairly properly, which clearly is good within the wind, which is sort of tough to sort of maneuver,” Åberg mentioned. “I made a number of par putts right now … after which it’s good to get these momentum putts and to maintain the spherical going just a little bit. However there’s no ensures, but when I maintain doing what I’m doing right now, I like my probabilities.”
