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Two of the 2024 Masters’ best will be absent at Quail Hollow. After world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Aberg has pulled out of the Wells Fargo Championship, citing a knee issue. The field has been reduced to 69 with the Swede’s withdrawal. Scheffler was already absent; reportedly, he is expecting the first child with his wife, Meredith, this week. 

This would’ve been Aberg’s first outing at Quail Hollow, which was elevated to the status of a signature event this year. Posting an official statement on his Instagram handle, Aberg said, “I’m reaching out to let you all know that I’m going to have to withdraw from the Wells Fargo Championship. I was very excited to tee it up at Quail Hollow for the first time. Unfortunately, I’m dealing with a knee issue and after consulting with my doctors, we think it’s best that I take some additional time to rest.

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Quail Hollow is famous for being the rising star and the first-time winner’s hunting round. While Aberg has already won twice on the Tour, a victory at Quail Hollow would’ve elevated him to the same pedestal as Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, and even Anthony Kim

Kim, who now plays in LIV Golf after a 12-year-hiatus, earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Quail Hollow event, then known as the Wachovia Championship, in 2008. McIlroy followed that up two years later at the Quail Hollow Championship, his first of three victories here. Another two years later, 23-year-old Rickie Fowler earned his maiden PGA Tour victory, defeating the Ulsterman in a playoff. Homa used it as his launching pad in 2019, after a miserable first few starts in the Tour. 

Ludvig Aberg has made five top-10s from his ten starts this season. In his last appearance at the RBC Heritage, Aberg bagged a T10. The Texas Tech alum emerged as the lone challenger to Scottie Scheffler in Augusta. Aberg bagged a solo second, four shots behind the world no. 1.

via Reuters

Interestingly, there was no mention of a knee injury during his RBC Heritage media interaction. Neither did he hobble on the ground. Wells Fargo is the tune-up event to the second major of the season, where Aberg was expected to be right in the mix. But now the question is, can he tee up at Valhalla?

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Ludvig Aberg is hopeful of teeing up at the PGA Championship

Aberg didn’t mention the specifics of the ‘knee issue.’ However, reports indicate that rather than a serious injury, it might just be soreness. The two-time PGA Tour winner has played three straight weeks from San Antonio to Hilton Head. In the statement, the Swedish International said, “I hope everyone has a great week and I look forward to teeing it up next week.

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The former Texas Tech University student earned his Tour card last year through the PGA Tour University ranking. The Omega European Masters victory was followed by a Ryder Cup call from team captain Luke Donald. At Marco Simone, Aberg showed the hype wasn’t all hyperbole. 

Notably, the PGA Tour pro has also joined Tiger Woods’s tech-infused golf league, TGL. Ludvig Aberg is part of the Bay Golf Club along with Shane Lowry, reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark, and another hot prospect, Min Woo Lee of Australia.