Tough start for Åberg – Norén has a strong finish

World number four Ludvig Åberg makes his British Open debut on a classic Swedish golf course in Scotland. The start was tough, however – the 24-year-old is four strokes over par after the first round. I didn't quite take advantage of my putting, he says. It went better for Alex Norén, who with his -2 is among the top.

» Published: July 18 2024

Tough start for Åberg – Norén has a strong finish
Photo: Scott Heppell/AP/TT

The world's fourth-ranked Ludvig Åberg makes his British Open debut on the classic Swedish golf course in Scotland.

The start was tough, though – the 24-year-old is four strokes over par after the first round.

I didn't quite take advantage of the putting, he says.

It went better for Alex Norén, who with his –2 is among the top players.

It was at Royal Troon on the Scottish west coast that Henrik Stenson wrote Swedish golf history in the summer of 2016. Then, he became Sweden's first male major winner – and still the only one – when he took home the British Open title after a thrilling duel with Phil Mickelson in the final round.

Stenson – who now plays on the LIV tour – is also present this year and received warm applause when he was welcomed back to Troon.

On the green and on the tee, I got a little extra applause and warmth. It warmed up a degree or two, anyway, says Stenson, who didn't get the game together and finished the first round six over par, to Viaplay.

Icy putter

The big Swedish hope before the tournament was, however, Ludvig Åberg.

The Swedish world number four from Eslöv got a taste of his British Open debut with a birdie on the first hole, but then it went significantly worse. Åberg made bogey on two par 3 holes during the first nine holes, and during the second half of the round, his putter was icy.

It became four bogeys on seven holes (holes 10, 12, 13, and 16) before he finished with a birdie putt on hole 18. In total, it was 75 strokes, four over par.

Putting is the part of the game that's most up and down, you have to have some acceptance with that, says Åberg to Viaplay.

The weather was changing during the first day's play.

The external factors will always be part of a British Open. It rained and it blew, says Åberg.

He was satisfied with the game from tee to green and thought he had good approach shots.

It's just to continue doing the same things and continue giving ourselves chances and hopefully rolling in some putts, says the 24-year-old about the continuation.

Norén among the top players

Veteran Alex Norén has reached his best major placement in his career in the British Open – tied sixth in 2017 – and in this year's edition, the 42-year-old got a brilliant start.

Norén signed his scorecard for 69 strokes and with –2, he is very much among the top players. The Swede is in a tie for fourth place after one round.

I navigated myself around in a pretty comfortable way, and then the score comes to you, says Norén to Viaplay.

Other Swedish results: Jesper Svensson +1, Alexander Björk +2, Charlie Lindh +4, and Vincent Norrman +7.

Sebastian Söderberg was qualified but was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Daniel Brown leads the tournament on six under par.

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald

More news

Swedes Shine in Toronto's 6-2
1 MIN READ

Swedes Shine in Toronto's 6-2 Rout of Ottawa

Lindblad Wins LPGA Title in
2 MIN READ

Lindblad Wins LPGA Title in LA, Takes Home $750,000 Prize

Piastri Takes Jeddah Win Ahead
2 MIN READ

Piastri Takes Jeddah Win Ahead of Verstappen

Barcelona Crushes Chelsea 4-1 in
2 MIN READ

Barcelona Crushes Chelsea 4-1 in Champions League Semifinal

Billborn Fumes: "Even in Division
3 MIN READ

Billborn Fumes: "Even in Division 7, That's Unacceptable"

Arsenal Delays Liverpool's Title Celebration
2 MIN READ

Arsenal Delays Liverpool's Title Celebration

Djurgården's Fallenius Out for Spring
1 MIN READ

Djurgården's Fallenius Out for Spring Season with Fracture

Lewandowski Faces Three-Week Layoff, May
1 MIN READ

Lewandowski Faces Three-Week Layoff, May Miss CL Semifinal

Fleury Praises Gustavsson's Cool Composure
3 MIN READ

Fleury Praises Gustavsson's Cool Composure as Minnesota's Top Goalie

Sabalenka Warned for Taking Photo
1 MIN READ

Sabalenka Warned for Taking Photo During Dispute with Umpire

Ingrid Lindblad Tied for First
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Tied for First in Thrilling LPGA Tournament Battle

Swedish Players Shine in Stanley
1 MIN READ

Swedish Players Shine in Stanley Cup Opener Despite St Louis Loss

Verstappen Secures Pole in Jeddah
1 MIN READ

Verstappen Secures Pole in Jeddah After Norris Crash

Isak Struggles as Newcastle Falls
1 MIN READ

Isak Struggles as Newcastle Falls 4-1 to Aston Villa

Brynäs Edges Luleå in Overtime
2 MIN READ

Brynäs Edges Luleå in Overtime Thriller to Lead Championship Series

Rangers and Anaheim Dismiss Head
1 MIN READ

Rangers and Anaheim Dismiss Head Coaches After Missing Playoffs

Norrköping's Quickfire Goals Secure Crucial
2 MIN READ

Norrköping's Quickfire Goals Secure Crucial Win Over Halmstad

Felicia Schröder Shines as Häcken
2 MIN READ

Felicia Schröder Shines as Häcken Secures Second Consecutive Victory

Lyon Edges Arsenal 2-1, Eyes
2 MIN READ

Lyon Edges Arsenal 2-1, Eyes 12th Champions League Final

Tuva Skoog Shines with Two
1 MIN READ

Tuva Skoog Shines with Two Goals in Malmö FF's 4-1 Victory Over AIK

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice
1 MIN READ

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice Hockey World Championship After Close Loss

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels
1 MIN READ

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels Him Up 39 Spots in Shanghai

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out
1 MIN READ

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out for Season After Knee Injury

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach
1 MIN READ

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach of Södertälje Sports Club

Robots Struggle in First Human
1 MIN READ

Robots Struggle in First Human vs. Machine Half-Marathon in Beijing

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's
2 MIN READ

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's Leadership in Tampa Bay

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with
1 MIN READ

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with Overtime Win Over Atlanta

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best Round at LPGA in Los Angeles

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's
1 MIN READ

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's Lead Over Moreirense

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve
2 MIN READ

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve Training by Canucks Coach Tocchet

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits
1 MIN READ

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits World Championship in Brazil

Dallas Stars Face Playoffs Without
1 MIN READ

Dallas Stars Face Playoffs Without Top Scorer Jason Robertson

Ludvig Åberg Struggles to Find
1 MIN READ

Ludvig Åberg Struggles to Find Form at RBC Heritage

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward
2 MIN READ

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward for Alleged Spearing Incident

NHL's Forsberg Eager for World
2 MIN READ

NHL's Forsberg Eager for World Championship, But Confirmation Pending

Thoresen's Pep Talk Fuels Djurgården's
3 MIN READ

Thoresen's Pep Talk Fuels Djurgården's Stunning Comeback Victory