Åberg outshines McIlroy in stellar start to PGA Championship at Wentworth

All 12 of Luke Donald’s European team are in action at Wentworth. Thick rough, which is also in place in Italy, looks deliberate with the biennial clash in mind.

STELLAR START: Ludvig Åberg arrived in England for the 2023 staging of the DP World Tour’s flagship event with praise ringing in his ears from Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland. Pic: Paige Young

A year ago, Ludvig Åberg was rising to the summit of the amateur golf rankings without anybody bar dedicated followers of the sport being particularly aware of who he was. He could have wandered among the Wentworth galleries at the PGA Championship in blissful anonymity.

To describe Åberg’s subsequent rise as meteoric feels like an understatement. He arrived in England for the 2023 staging of the DP World Tour’s flagship event with praise ringing in his ears from Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland. After his wildcard selection for Europe’s Ryder Cup team, Åberg is the talk of world golf.