Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg remarkably posted back-to-back 61s to secure a four-shot victory also for a record-smashing 29-under-par at the RSM Classic at Sea Islands in Georgia.
Not only did the recently turned 24-year-old win the final event of the PGA Tour season, he did it in brilliant fashion with his final birdie equalling the 72-hole scoring record on the PGA Tour, matching the 253 of Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open.
Aberg’s 61-61 finish also set the tour record for lowest closing 36 holes, beating Aussie Matt Jones at Kapalua in 2022 and Patrick Rodgers at Sea Island in 2019, and amazingly he has been a professional for just six months.
Even more remarkable it was just some six weeks ago that Aberg broke through on the DP World Tour, winning the Omega European Masters and a success that clearly helped secure his place as a ‘wildcard’ pick in Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup side.
“I’m super happy. It’s kind of beyond my dreams,” said Aberg.
“It’s really cool. To first off play on the PGA Tour, I have a lot of people to thank for that. It’s been so much fun, six months that I’ll never forget.
“This is what you dream of as a kid. This is the sport that I love and the sport that I’m going to love for a very long time. Watching these events from a very young age is what I’ve done so to see myself win is really cool.
“It validates my skill set and my capabilities. If you told me (I’d achieve) this a couple of months ago I would not have believed you. To be in this position I need to pinch myself in the arm.
“It’s really awesome and I’m so happy for me and my team and all the people that are close to me.”
Aberg earned a whopping $1,512,000 first prize cheque along with a two-year PGA Tour exemption to the end of 2025, plus he’s also earned coveted spots in The Players Championship, the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Masters.
The 2024 Masters will be Aberg’s first major championship start.
At the start of the week, and in what is the last ‘regular’ 2023 PGA Tour event, there had been much talk as to who would finish top-125 and retain full 2024 membership while there was lesser discussion who would be honoured with the Arnold Palmer ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.
Aberg had no concern for the first news item as after only just a handful of PGA Tour events he arrived on Simon’s Island with his 2024 PGA Tour playing rights assured in lying 96th on the money list but surely now the champion Swede has locked-in Arnie’s award.
Aberg went into the last day after achieving a first career 54-hole lead/co-lead on Tour and playing in the final group on Sunday for the first time.
On a scoring note, he posted a final round of 10 birdies, including back-to-back closing birdies, and also a lone bogey at the 12th hole that was the only bogey across 72 holes.
His pair of 61s are a shot lower than his previous Tour career-low: 62, R4/2023 Shriners Children’s Open while the rounds are the 12th occasion Aberg has shot lower than 65 or better since joining the PGA Tour as a member in June at the RBC Canadian Open.
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