Lined Up Birdies - Dream
Photo: Christer Höglund/TT

Lined Up Birdies - Dream Golf by Ludvig Åberg

· updated

The week after the Masters, Ludvig Åberg hit his stride. Åberg is in the lead after a bogey-free 63, eight under par, in the first round of the PGA Tour event at Harbour Town, South Carolina. "Today was one of those days where everything was stable," he told HBO Max.

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Sunday's final tie for 21st place in Augusta in the first major of the year did not go according to plan. Åberg had his sights set higher than that. Although he recorded 20 birdies over the four rounds, he also lost many strokes due to costly mistakes.

"A few too many simple mistakes that bother me. Now that I'm standing here, I'm of course disappointed with the result," he said at the time.

This week at Hilton Head Island looks like it could be more stable - and more fun.

After six birdies and pars through 14 holes, Åberg found himself in trouble on the upcoming par-5 hole. The tee shot went wide left, but Åberg played smartly out onto the fairway and landed the green with his third shot, giving himself a chance for birdie, but he had to settle for par.

Eight birdies

He then recorded birdies on the seventh and eighth holes and took the lead, one stroke ahead of American Harris English and Norwegian Viktor Hovland.

It's great to be back at this level. I like that the golf I'm playing is good enough for this.

"My iron shots were very nice," he said about the shots that paid off.

Åberg also had the chance to show he is a gentleman. The tee shot on the ninth hole went sideways and straight into the crowd. The ball hit a woman, not seriously, but enough for Åberg to realize that an apology was warranted.

He also signed a glove and handed it to the spectator as a makeshift bandage for the wound.

Recent Masters winner Rory McIlroy will not play in Harbour Town. Russell Henley, Tyrrell Hatton and Justin Rose will also skip it.

Tougher for Norén

The competition is tough, though. World number one Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick are some of the big names Ludvig Åberg has to face.

Alex Norén had a tougher time. With a two-over-par round, he sits far down the leaderboard.

In this story
AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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