Give Ludvig Åberg an ice cream, and he’d happily stick around the golf course for an extra hour. At least, that’s how his dad got him into the game at the age of eight. What started with a sweet little bribe turned into an incredible journey for Åberg, where he no longer needs any bait to fall in love with the sport. Now, he’s shining like a star on the golf course. Before turning professional in June 2023, Åberg already had an impressive resume. He finished first in the PGA Tour University rankings, which got him straight onto the PGA Tour. Within just five months of going pro, Åberg claimed his first wins on both the European and PGA Tours.

Though it hasn’t been long enough since he turned pro, he has already given us plenty of reasons to vouch for him on the greens. Let’s revisit some of those moments of Ludvig’s career where this rising star proved he is the next big thing.

1. His first PGA Tour win

Åberg didn’t just make his PGA Tour debut in 2023—he made history. Most rookies would be happy with decent finishes in their first season, but Ludvig? He went all in, dominating the field and walking away with his first PGA Tour win in his debut season at the 2023 RSM Classic. In that same event, he also tied the lowest 72-hole total in PGA Tour history and set a record for the lowest score over the final two rounds. Not bad for a guy playing his very first tournament, right? Now that’s how you make a remarkable debut.

2. Dominated in the Swedish Golf Tour

When the 2020 collegiate season got cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ludvig Åberg headed back home to Sweden—and let’s just say, he didn’t waste any time making a name for himself. Competing on the Swedish Golf Tour, he grabbed his first professional win at the Katrineholm Open in July.

And if that wasn’t enough, he backed it up the very next week with another victory at the Barsebäck Resort Masters, where he birdied five of his last six holes to win by an impressive five strokes. And let’s not forget, later that year, he represented the International Team at the 2020 Arnold Palmer Cup. Not only did he show up, but he dominated the field in every sense, finishing 4–0 in his matches.

3. He already turned down LIV Golf’s offer

Players switching boats from PGA Tour to LIV Golf has been a forever debate. The Saudi-funded league offers some lucrative amounts, which easily sway away the players. For most newcomers, the flashy contracts might seem too good to pass up—but not Åberg. Back in 2022, he turned down a 2-year deal worth $2.5 million from the Saudi-funded league. Instead of chasing the cash, Ludvig chose to stay at Texas Tech and focus on his collegiate career. “When I look back, I am super confident in my decision,” Aberg told SVT Sport via a Google translation. “I will never try to chase money, what I do is to compete. I did the right thing. I want to play against the best, because I am a competitive person and like to compete against the best players,” Aberg said.

4. A Captain’s Pick for the Ryder Cup

Ludvig Åberg didn’t just make the 2023 Ryder Cup team—he was handpicked by European captain Luke Donald, and it was easy to see why. On the Laying Up Podcast, Donald shared a story from the Dubai Desert Classic where Åberg, still an amateur, played on one of the toughest driving courses. Right from the start, his calm and precise game stood out to Donald.“You know, you’re like, you play enough with people to understand when there’s something a little bit different about,” Donald said.

Then, at the Omega European Masters, Åberg really showed what he was made of. He birdied four of the last five holes in his final round to shoot a 64, snagging his first win as a pro and finishing two strokes ahead of Alexander Björk, But he wasn’t done there. At the BMW PGA Championship, Åberg led after 54 holes before a tough final round left him tied for 10th. Still, his victory at the European Masters convinced Donald he was ready for the Ryder Cup.

“That was enough for me,” the former World No.1 said. “That was enough to understand that not only were we going to build him for future Ryder Cups, but he was already ready.” And that’s how Åberg became the first player ever selected for the Ryder Cup without having played in a major championship.

5. Playing among the elites

Åberg’s major championship debut at the Masters Tournament in April 2024 was nothing short of impressive. He didn’t just compete—he finished solo second behind the world’s no. 1, Scottie Scheffler. And then came his performance in the TGL, where he represented The Bay Golf Club against New York Golf Club. Åberg didn’t just play—he made history by sinking the first hole-in-one in TGL history with a clutch putt setting the tone for his team. His performance throughout the match helped The Bay Golf Club take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Ludvig Åberg is now chasing his second PGA Tour victory, but with his impressive record, it feels like it’s just around the corner.