Masters star 'very flattered' after Rory McIlroy jumps on the bandwagon

Masters star ‘very flattered’ after Rory McIlroy jumps on the bandwagon

Posted by Admin April 16, 2024 Golf

Former Open champion Shane Lowry is the latest player to throw his weight behind Ludvig Aberg, predicting the Swede will ascend to the world No.1 spot following his impressive performance at the Masters. And Aberg insists he is “very flattered” by the praise coming his way from the likes of Lowry and Rory McIlroy.

Aberg, who only turned professional in June of last year, quickly made a name for himself on the DP World Tour and played a key role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory in Rome.

His partnership with Viktor Hovland resulted in a 9&7 win over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka. He also celebrated a PGA Tour win before the season’s end.

The 24-year-old’s stellar performances earned him a debut at Augusta National where he gave Scheffler a run for his money in the final round before the current world No.1 clinched his second Green Jacket.

Lowry, speaking about his Ryder Cup team-mate, said: “I think he’s a future world number one. I don’t need to say any more about him. He’s got a really, really, really bright future ahead of him. He’s already done a few great things in the game, and I’m sure he’ll do many more.”

Rory McIlroy is another who recognises Aberg’s potential, having been impressed by what he saw during a European team scouting trip to Rome ahead of last year’s Ryder Cup. “I was on the bandwagon before and I’m certainly at the front of it now,” McIlroy stated.

Reacting to the praise, Aberg, after his final round of 69 at Augusta, said: “It’s very flattering. It’s very nice of them to say those things.

“But I think it just tells me that we are doing some good things, me and my team, and we’re probably not going to change a whole lot. But obviously hearing those things from Rory and those guys is very, very encouraging.

“This being my first major championship, you never really know what it’s going to be like until you’re there and experience it.

“I think this week has given me a lot of experiences and a lot of lessons learned in terms of those things. It makes me really hungry, and it makes me want to do it again and again.

“I think everyone in my position, they are going to want to be major champions. They are going to want to be world number one and it’s the same for me. It’s been that way ever since I picked up a golf club, and that hasn’t changed.

“So I think this week solidifies a lot of those things are there, and we just need to keep doing those things and put ourselves in positions to win tournaments, I think.”