Åberg bounced back after the nightmare start

The Swedish star Ludvig Åberg got a nightmare start when the PGA tour's final playoffs began, but the 24-year-old could, via three birdies, come in one stroke over par. For the playoffs' second Swede Alex Norén, it went heavier.

» Updated:

» Published:

Åberg bounced back after the nightmare start
Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

Share this article

Norén finished with two bogeys and is +3 after the first round.

After the Olympic Games in Paris, Ludvig Åberg and Alex Norén are now both back in their golf routine in the USA.

However, only the top 70 on the Fedex Cup ranking after the regular season get to participate now that the PGA Tour's lucrative playoffs are underway with the first of three tournaments. When Norwegian Viktor Hovland won the tour final last year, he received a winner's check of 190 million kronor (18 million dollars).

Tough double bogey

World number four Åberg came to the tournament at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, as sixth on the ranking, but the 24-year-old from Eslöv had a tough start to the first round.

Initially, not much was going right, and after just five played holes, the Swede was already three strokes over par.

On the fifth hole – par 4 – he had to note a double bogey after two failed chip shots at the green. There was another bogey on the seventh hole before Åberg woke up.

He set up his shot on the eighth hole – par 3 – short of the flag and could easily putt for the day's first birdie. There was another birdie on hole 12 after a fine bunker shot, and on the next short hole – hole 14 – the Swede sank a five-meter long putt. New birdie and +1 for the day. That's where Åberg stood when his first 18 holes were completed.

Finished tough

Alex Norén – who is 42nd on the Fedex Cup ranking – also had a tough start. After a bogey on the second hole, it was – like for Åberg – a double bogey on hole 5.

Then Norén bounced back with two straight birdies (holes 9 and 10) before it became two tough bogeys on the last two holes for three strokes over par for the day.

Åberg has a good chance of reaching the tour final (top 30 on the ranking) at the end of August, but Norén needs to play well this week to stay in the top 50 and get to play the second playoff tournament next week.

World number one Scottie Scheffler and world number two Xander Schauffele – also one and two on the Fedex Cup ranking – are both on –4. Countryman Chris Kirk, USA, leads on six strokes under par.

The PGA Tour playoffs consist of three tournaments:

+ The first tournament (top 70 on the Fedex Cup ranking get to participate)

Takes place 15–18 August at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

+ The second tournament (top 50 after the tournament in Memphis)

Takes place 22–25 August at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado.

+ The tour final (top 30 after the tournament in Castle Rock)

Takes place 29 August–1 September at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia.

In the tour final, the ranking is used to give the top players an advantage over the rest of the field. The leader starts the tournament on 10 strokes under par. The second place starts on –8, the third on –7, the fourth on –6, and the fifth on –5. Players ranked 6–10 start the tour final on –4 – and so on. Players ranked 26–30 start on par.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Ragnar Carlsson Falls Short in World Championship Hammer Throw Qualifiers

Ragnar Carlsson Falls Short in World Championship Hammer Throw Qualifiers

Suldan Hassan Targets Olympic Gold at Los Angeles 2028

Suldan Hassan Targets Olympic Gold at Los Angeles 2028

Germany Wins European Basketball Championship After 32-Year Wait

Germany Wins European Basketball Championship After 32-Year Wait

Roony Bardghji Debuts for Barcelona in 6-0 Win Over Valencia

Roony Bardghji Debuts for Barcelona in 6-0 Win Over Valencia

Haaland Shines as Man City Dominates Manchester Derby 3-0

Haaland Shines as Man City Dominates Manchester Derby 3-0

Tour of Spain Final Stage Canceled Amid Protests in Madrid

Tour of Spain Final Stage Canceled Amid Protests in Madrid

Oliver Solberg Wins First WRC2 World Championship Title

Oliver Solberg Wins First WRC2 World Championship Title

Elfsborg Stages Comeback to Draw 2-2 with Malmö in Allsvenskan Match

Elfsborg Stages Comeback to Draw 2-2 with Malmö in Allsvenskan Match

Finland Narrowly Misses Bronze in European Basketball Championship

Finland Narrowly Misses Bronze in European Basketball Championship

Alex Norén Wins PGA Championship at Wentworth After Playoff Victory

Alex Norén Wins PGA Championship at Wentworth After Playoff Victory

Jamaica Wins First Men's 100m World Championship Gold Since Bolt

Jamaica Wins First Men's 100m World Championship Gold Since Bolt

Kajsa Bergqvist Emotional Over Almgren's World Championship Bronze

Kajsa Bergqvist Emotional Over Almgren's World Championship Bronze

Stockholm Derby Ends in Dramatic 3-3 Draw as Djurgården Scores Late

Stockholm Derby Ends in Dramatic 3-3 Draw as Djurgården Scores Late

Rolfö Shines with Assist in Super League Debut for Manchester United

Rolfö Shines with Assist in Super League Debut for Manchester United

Andreas Almgren Wins Historic Bronze in 10,000m at World Championships

Andreas Almgren Wins Historic Bronze in 10,000m at World Championships

Rosengård Suffers Fourth Straight Loss in 2-1 Defeat to AIK

Rosengård Suffers Fourth Straight Loss in 2-1 Defeat to AIK

Maja Åskag Places Ninth in World Championship Long Jump Final

Maja Åskag Places Ninth in World Championship Long Jump Final

Alexander Isak Misses Liverpool Debut in Win Over Burnley

Alexander Isak Misses Liverpool Debut in Win Over Burnley

Ricky Hatton, Two-Time World Champion Boxer, Dies at 46

Ricky Hatton, Two-Time World Champion Boxer, Dies at 46

Vanessa Kamga Sets Double Swedish Records and Stays in Japan

Vanessa Kamga Sets Double Swedish Records and Stays in Japan