In the season's biggest competition so far, Ludvig Åberg showed stable play on one of the most iconic courses in the world, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
At least in 16 of 18 holes.
After a round of The Players Championship, the season's biggest competition so far and colloquially called "the fifth major", the 25-year-old is under par despite double nightmare holes.
It was like a rollercoaster. A bit good and mixed. I thought I hit the ball quite okay, tee to green. I hit many fairways and gave myself many chances anyway. But generally, there were a few too big mistakes in between, says Åberg.
Four-putted
On the 13th hole (Åberg's fourth for the day, he started the round on hole 10) the Swedish world number four was close to sinking a long putt and making the day's second birdie. But instead, it ended with a double bogey, after being forced to use four strokes on the green.
The Swede then showed a strong psyche, and responded with two birdies on the following three holes.
But then it was time for the next mishap.
Åberg chipped past the entire green, resulting in a water visit. Thus, it became another double bogey, and after half the round, the Swede was one over par.
Under par
But after shaking off the nightmare hole, the Swede could continue with his stable play, and finished the round with a somewhat unusual birdie, where he hit a leader board. A finish that meant 71 strokes, under par, for the day and a shared 47th place.
I don't know how I managed to finish with a birdie, but I did. So lunch tasted a bit better now anyway, says he.
Jesper Svensson finished the first day on par, which gives a shared 62nd place, and Henrik Norlander shares 83rd place after going around on one over par.
American Lucas Glover leads the competition on six under par.
