The players in today's big star ball – Åberg, Rory McIlroy, and Scottie Scheffler – all praised the atmosphere after playing the first 18 holes in the men's Olympic Games golf.
Around 30,000 spectators had risen early to follow the game on the course south of Paris in scorching sun.
It's a fantastically cool course also, since there are many holes that become like a bowl with fans up on the "grass stands", says Åberg, who enjoyed the experience.
Missed many fairways
Game-wise, it was a bit hit-and-miss from the tee, but the 24-year-old star from Eslöv still managed a 68-round (three under par). Åberg is very much in the fight for the coveted Olympic medals, just like Scheffler (four under) and McIlroy (three under).
I would like to be on the short grass a bit more than I was today, but I think I handled it well, says Åberg, who only hit 6 out of 14 fairways.
Among other things, he hit the very first shot into the water, but still managed to save par there. After the round, a late lunch in the shade and then a session on the driving range awaited Åberg.
I would like to be a bit sharper than I am right now (from the tee), he says.
Norén best Swedish player
The Scanian world number four, who has made a rocket career since turning pro last year, is not the best Swedish player after the first day's play. Alex Norén, who is playing his second consecutive Olympic Games, finished one stroke better than Åberg after rolling in four straight birdies on holes 14 to 17.
In the end, it was good, says Norén, who has previously won a European Tour event and played the Ryder Cup 2018 on the Olympic course.
The fact that it has gone well and that I have played here a lot takes me with me, says the 42-year-old Norén about what might be his last chance for an Olympic medal.
For each Olympic Games, the prestige has increased among us players and for myself as well, says the Stockholm native.
A night-time rain and gentle winds made the course relatively easy to play with many low scores.
Hideki Matsuyama, Japan, did the best of all with 63 strokes, eight under par. Two strokes behind is the newly crowned The Open champion and reigning Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele, USA.
Then it's tight, and a total of 41 out of the 60 players went under par in the opening round.
Norén shares sixth place and Åberg 14th going into the second round on Friday.
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Hideki Matsuyama, Japan, 63 strokes.
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Xander Schauffele, USA, 65.
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Joaquin Niemann, Chile, Emiliano Grillo, Argentina, and Tom Kim, South Korea, all 66.
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Alex Norén, 67.
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Ludvig Åberg, 68.
On Friday, Norén starts his round at 11.17 am, while Åberg tees off at 12.06 pm.
