In simply his eleventh get started as a certified at the PGA Tour, Ludvig Åberg no longer handiest entered the winner’s circle for the first time on the 2023 RSM Classic however made history doing it. Scoring consecutive 61s over the final two rounds at Sea Island Golf Club, Åberg posted the bottom general over Rounds 3 and four of a event in PGA Tour history at 122.
That mark ties the PGA Tour report for lowest 36-hole ranking over any two rounds, whilst his 72-hole general of 253 in a similar fashion matched a four-round scoring report. Åberg’s 54-hole general of 186, posted over Rounds 2-4, additionally made PGA Tour history, in keeping with Justin Ray.
The Swedish famous person raced previous the sector with a 5-under 30 at the first 9 Sunday ahead of keeping off a feisty Mackenzie Hughes en path to a four-stroke victory.
“This is what you dream of as a kid,” stated Åberg. “This is the sport I love and the sport that I am going to love for a very long time. Watching these events from a very young age and to see myself win is really cool.”
Additional accolades are most likely include the trophy as Åberg turns into the favourite to take house the Arnold Palmer Award offered to the Rookie of the Year at the PGA Tour. The 24-year-old has ascended throughout the peak 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time in his profession incomes invites into what’s going to be his first two primary championship appearances within the 2024 Masters and the PGA Championship.
The win additionally indicates the continuation of a stretch of stellar golfing relationship again to August. Eight directly top-15 finishes have sandwiched a sensational Ryder Cup debut with triumphs now approaching each the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. To put it merely: The floodgates have opened.
Making Åberg’s presence in this level the entire extra spectacular is the place he used to be simply six months in the past. Arriving to the pro stage throughout the PGA Tour University Rankings in June, Åberg used to be afforded standing at the PGA Tour for the rest of the 2023 season. In 2024, he could be matter to reshuffling, however this is now a non-issue for the previous Texas Tech Red Raiders superstar.
“[The win] validates my skillset and my capabilities,” stated Åberg. “If you told me this a couple months ago, I would not have believed you. To be in this position, I pinch myself in the arm, but it’s really awesome and I am so happy for me, my team and all the people that I am close with.”
Over the weekend, Åberg possessed each 36- and 54-hole leads for the first time in his PGA Tour profession. He spoke back with a third-round 61 to handle his edge and a final-round 61 to slam the door close. Both performances seemed as easy as his golfing swing.
Four birdies throughout his first six holes noticed his lead balloon to 4 ahead of Hughes stuck fireplace. Once the Swede hopped off the birdie educate, the Canadian jumped on. Four directly birdies from Nos. 7-10 lower Åberg’s edge in part, however this is as shut as Hughes were given.
Fighting for par on 11 and not able to show Åberg’s lone dropped shot of the event at the twelfth right into a two-shot swing, Hughes may just no longer slither within the crack within the door. A methodical means of fairways, vegetables and a couple of extra birdies from Åberg over the final 1/3 saved Hughes at bay and gave him a well-earned first victory at the PGA Tour.
What occurs subsequent within the context of Åberg’s profession is any individual’s perfect bet. A multiple-time winner at the PGA Tour turns out sure. A multiple-time member of the European Ryder Cup group does as properly. The primary championships will probably be every other new enjoy for the teenager in 2024, but when he handles the ones with the poise and beauty he did the remainder of the tournaments he performed all over first six months as a certified, Åberg will have to do exactly high-quality. Grade: A+
Here are the grades for the remainder of the notables at the leaderboard on the 2023 RSM Classic
2. Mackenzie Hughes (-25): He gave the child the whole lot he may just care for. After a third-round 60, Hughes hung with Åberg for everything of the final around handiest to expire of holes and lose via a couple. Completely out of types this summer time, the Canadian seemed a lot more like his customary self all over the autumn with a runner-up efficiency in Sea Island and peak 10 on the World Wide Technology Championship. He finishes the season No. 51 within the FedEx Cup and atop The Next 10, that means his position within the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational were secured. Not handiest that however Hughes put in combination an early marketing campaign effort for for the 2024 Presidents Cup this is being held in his local Canada. Grade: A
T3. Eric Cole (-22): Cole rattled off 8 directly 3s at one level Saturday and had the glance of a person in the end able to lift a trophy at the PGA Tour. Entering the final around one stroke off the tempo of Åberg, Cole briefly was an afterthought with two dropped photographs in his first 5 holes. He used to be not able to get better and overpassed the leaders, the event and probably Rookie of the Year honors. Despite the disappointing finish to the yr, Cole will stay his chin up making an allowance for the place he as soon as used to be. A 57-time winner on minor league golfing circuit, Cole stunned many this season along with his constant presence on leaderboards. He got here shut at tournaments just like the Honda Classic and the Zozo Championship, converting his lifestyles within the procedure. Grade: A-
T8. Taylor Montgomery (-18): Montgomery’s season used to be outlined via his fall swings. Connecting on 8 peak 15s in his first 9 begins this yr, he hit a longer lull that lasted till the FedEx Cup Fall. His just right play within the early portion of his rookie marketing campaign gave him sufficient respiring room to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs in spite of 0 peak 15s because the finish of January. After lacking the lower on the Fortinet Championship, Montgomery rattled off 4 directly made cuts, together with a T16 on the Zozo Championship and his peak 10 on the RSM Classic. His play used to be sufficient to climb within The Next 10 and qualify for the first two signature occasions of 2024. Grade: A-
T11. Russell Henley (-17): In his first get started because the Tour Championship in August, Henley stumbled out the gates. Uncharacteristic for a quick starter like him, Henley battled again over the final 54 holes after shaking off the early rust. His T11 is just right for a profession perfect 14th peak 20 of the season and places a bow on a stellar yr. The former Georgia Bulldogs superstar stays probably the most underrated skills on Tour, and he’s positive to be a fixture within the signature occasions in 2024. Grade: B
T38. Cameron Young (-12): The reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year’s sophomore marketing campaign involves an result in a forgettable model. Leading after Day 1 motion, Young used to be not able to handle the momentum over the final 3 days and slowly slipped down the leaderboard. He stays with out a victory at the PGA Tour, and outdoor a two-tournament stretch on the John Deere Classic and The Open, he hasn’t carried out a lot since April. It is again to the planning stage for Sleepy Hollow’s best as he’s slated to subsequent tee it up at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge. Grade: C-