Ludvig Åberg's success in the US Open continues.
He leads the major tournament after two rounds and can write Swedish golf history this weekend.
Hopefully, we'll be able to hold on to it, he says.
After two rounds on the challenging Pinehurst no 2 in North Carolina, Ludvig Åberg is in the lead.
After going 69 strokes, one under par, Åberg has a total of five under par.
I hit the ball very well. It was obviously very challenging, it's not an easy course to play. But it felt like we were very disciplined, patient, and tried to reach our goals, says Åberg after the round.
Birdies – but also bogeys
After birdies on the second and fifth holes, Åberg took the lead. A bogey on the eighth hole was regained after a birdie on the 12th, but then he landed in a bunker on the 16th hole, resulting in another bogey.
The Swedish world number six had previously shared the lead with Matthieu Pavon, but the Frenchman finished his round with bogeys on the eighth and ninth holes and landed in a shared fifth place after the second round.
Ludvig Åberg has played on Pinehurst before, then as an amateur, and is well aware of the high level required.
A US Open should be tough. It should be tricky and challenge all parts of your game, says Åberg and adds:
And I think it feels like it does.
Challenging course
According to the Swede, who is called "one of golf's rising young stars" by American media, it's about staying focused despite the high pressure.
It's a demanding golf course, not just physically but also mentally. It requires a lot of discipline and patience to play on these greens, says he and adds that he – despite the brilliant start – is aware that things can go wrong during the game.
It's about accepting that he won't play perfectly all the time, says the 24-year-old.
Probably, all players on the field will have a struggle at some point during the round. All I'm trying to do is execute the shots as well as I can, and if I do, that's great. If not, I'll deal with it and try to come back as soon as I can.
Åberg has made a success in his first year on the PGA Tour. He finished second in the US Masters in April and is now chasing his first major win.
Only one Swedish male player has previously won a major (one of golf's four biggest tournaments), Henrik Stenson in the British Open in 2016.
Åberg tees off on the third round at 21.35 tonight.
2023
May: Ended his amateur career as world number one and number one on the PGA Tour's university ranking.
June: Made his professional debut in the Canadian Open.
July: Finished fourth in the John Deere Classic, his best performance on the PGA Tour at the time.
September: Won the European Masters in Switzerland and was selected for the Ryder Cup.
October: Celebrated Europe's Ryder Cup victory in Rome.
November: Took his first PGA Tour win in The RSM Classic.
2024
February: Finished second at Pebble Beach, earning a prize check of over two million dollars.
March: Made his debut in The Players Championship – "the fifth major" – and finished eighth.
April: Finished second in his first major in the US Masters.
June: Leads the US Open after two rounds.
