When Ludvig Åberg made his major debut last year, he didn't play Wednesday's par 3 competition. A knee was haunting him and Åberg wanted to focus on what awaited the days after in the US Masters.
This year, the 25-year-old star chose a different path. With his girlfriend Olivia Peet as caddie, he went out and played the picturesque par 3 course in the valley behind the clubhouse, in front of an audience that was in top spirits in the sunshine.
"Completely different atmosphere"
There was a lot of laughter from Åberg and Peet during the round as well.
It's a cool thing and a completely different atmosphere than what it is on the big course out here. It becomes a bit more relaxed and a good warm-up, I think, says Åberg.
The par 3 competition has been played since 1960 and provides an opportunity for the audience to get a little closer to the big golf stars. The players who have children often have them with them on the course, toddling around in tailored white caddie outfits.
In Åberg's three-ball with the Englishmen Matt Fitzpatrick and Aaron Rai, it was instead the players' partners who provided a little extra entertainment when they got the chance to hit out on a couple of holes.
Ludvig Åberg didn't win, but it's hardly something he's sorry about. There's a certain superstition surrounding the par 3 competition, since no one who has won it has managed to follow it up with a win in the Masters.
"Always fun"
At 19.12, Swedish time, Ludvig Åberg will start his first round in the Masters together with Akshay Bhatia and world number two Rory McIlroy. A three-ball that is likely to draw many eyes to itself.
I think it's great to play with Rory. Then you expect good golf and that he will come out hot. It's always fun to play with players who play well, it becomes a cool group. I played with him here last year, but it was only a practice round, says the Swedish runner-up from last year.
At 13.40, Swedish time, the 89th edition of the US Masters will begin. Mostly sunny and up to 23 degrees are expected during the first round.
The hottest balls' start times (Swedish time):
15.47: Collin Morikawa, USA, Joaquín Niemann, Chile, Min Woo Lee, Australia.
16.15: Scottie Scheffler, USA, Justin Thomas, do, José Luis Ballester, Spain.
19.01: Adam Scott, Australia, Xander Schauffele, USA, Viktor Hovland, Norway.
19.12: Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland, Ludvig Åberg, Sweden, Akshay Bhatia, USA.
19.23: Hideki Matsuyama, Japan, Bryson DeChambeau, USA, Shane Lowry, Ireland.
19.34: Jon Rahm, Spain, Wyndham Clark, USA, Tommy Fleetwood, England.
