The golf world was already hyped up when Ludvig Aberg made his Masters debut last year. Then, the Swede had already secured a win on the PGA Tour and was part of a winning Ryder Cup team before even competing in a major. Leading to Sunday, Aberg was in fact trailing just behind Scottie Scheffler. He could have won the event–and secured his name in history. How? Had he won his first Masters, he could have done something that not even Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have managed to do, despite their amazing career runs.

Recently, Ludvig Aberg has been active at Augusta National for his second Masters Tournament appearance, starting April 10. He sat down for the press conference. Then, he asked to look back in time when he lost to Scheffler while giving him a painful reminder. For instance, only two players in the sport’s history have managed to win the Masters on their first try: Horton Smith (1934) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1979). Ludvig Aberg failed. “What’s your reflection on that? Did it surprise you?” The interviewer added.

Ludvig Aberg’s answer was as realistic as it could get. “Yeah, it sucks that I don’t get a second try on that, that I can’t do it again. But yeah, I think obviously looking back to last year, it was really cool, and it would have been cool to do that and to sort of put my name on that list, but I hope to do it in another way. Yeah, it was a culmination of a lot of things, I think. Obviously Augusta is I think in my opinion the coolest place in the world when it comes to the game of golf, and yeah, I’m just really excited to go play it.” So, what really went down at Augusta National last year?

The former Texas Tech Red Raider double-bogeyed the 11th hole after his approach shot went into the water. However, he recovered to finish with a 3-under 69. However, it wasn’t enough to catch Scheffler, who won his second green jacket. Last year at the RBC Heritage, Aberg called it a “dumb mistake.” Regardless, Aberg proved that the hype around him was worth it. Sure, he may not have that chance again, but five rookie players this season have a chance to do what Ludvig Aberg couldn’t. However, another thing is bothering Aberg ahead of the Masters.

Ludvig Aberg needs to focus on his short game ahead of the Masters

Ludvig Aberg is aware his short game is a problem. Just last month, in just 36 holes at TPC Sawgrass, he recorded five double bogeys. By doing that, he surpassed his earlier season total. Undoubtedly, it led to frustration for the European Ryder Cupper after his early exit from the PGA Tour event. Sure, before that, Aberg had only one triple bogey and three double bogeys in 16 rounds during 2025. More recently, he recorded 7 bogeys at the Valero Texas Open. The result? He missed the cut.

Before that, at TPC Sawgrass, he admitted where he fell short. After missing the cut at TPC Sawgrass, he said of his 2-over, 71-75 performance at The PLAYERS, “I felt like yesterday was definitely more short-game shots. Even today, there’s just no momentum in the rounds.” Ahead of that, he admitted that he needed to get his short game a “little bit sharper over the next couple of weeks. And get that a little better.” However, he isn’t alone in his concerns about the issue.

Just a few days ago, Johnson Wagner sat down for an interview on 5 Clubs. Talking about which golfer he believed could be a winner at the Masters, he confidently muttered Aberg’s name. However, that came with a warning: “He will need to improve his short game to win a green jacket.” Statistics indicate that Masters champions usually excel in scrambling and putting, but Aberg ranks outside the top 30 in both areas on tour. A major cause for concern? Yes.

There’s no doubt that Ludvig Aberg is a solid golfer, however, he will need to watch out for the defending champion once again. Our best wishes are with him–and the five rookie players heading into their first Masters!