Donald Goes For Four European Rookies Including Swede Superstar Aberg

2 years ago by Comments Off on Donald Goes For Four European Rookies Including Swede Superstar Aberg

European captain Luke Donald has surprised many in handing young Swedish superstar-in-the-making Ludvig Aberg as one of his six ‘wildcard’ picks to take to Rome later this.

Aberg, 23, brilliantly captured last Sunday’s Omega European Masters and in only his ninth event as a professional, and a fifth on the DP World since making his debut as an amateur at the 2018 Nordic Masters.

Fleetwood’s other picks were Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Nicolai Hojgaard.

Scot Robert MacIntyre, who qualified automatically, Straka, Hojgaard and Aberg will be the four rookies heading to the host Marco Simone course in the Italian capital.

 

Aberg, who only turned pro in June, has easily made the quickest transition from the amateur ranks to the Ryder Cup in the contest’s history, eclipsing the previous record set by Sergio Garcia, who made his debut in September 1999 after turning professional following April’s Masters.

“It’s been an incredible these few last couple of months but it’s also been so exciting that I can’t wait, I can’t wait till Rome”, said Aberg.

The six wild cards join automatic qualifiers Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre in Donald’s team, which will attempt to regain the trophy at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club from September 29 to October 1.

Speaking about Aberg, Donald said: “We obviously knew what he was doing in the college scene. You look at what he did in those four years and the only comparables really were Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm. He is that good.

“I played with him in Detroit and was blown away by his game. He continued to impress and I challenged him to come over to Europe and play a couple (of events).

“He was fifth (tied fourth) in the Czech Masters and you know what he did yesterday. It was like a walk in the park for him and for someone that is so inexperienced it was just so, so impressive.”



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