PGA Tour star claims Ludvig Aberg is “no brainer” Ryder Cup wildcard

Ludvig Aberg is a “no brainer” Ryder Cup wildcard pick for Luke Donald, according to PGA Tour pro Byeong-hun An.

Sweden’s Aberg only joined the paid ranks in June but is now being widely tipped to become the most inexperienced player in Ryder Cup history in Rome, such has been his rapid rise to prominence.

European captain Donald has already said that he has been “tracking Ludvig” for a year and the 23-year-old is now making a serious case to be named as one of is six picks during Monday’s announcement.

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Aberg finished T4 in the penultimate qualifying event in Prague last week and lit up the Omega European Masters with a six-under par 64 on Thursday while playing alongside Donald’s vice-captains Nicolas Colsaerts and Edoardo Molinari.

And like many, former BMW PGA Championship winner An has seen enough.

“Aberg for Ryder cup is a no brainer,” he tweeted, before adding, “He hasn’t won anything but his game looks solid. Pretty decent all around. I don’t see anyone better than him for the last spot.”

An was then challenged whether this showdown at Marco Simone has come too soon for a player in the fledging stages of his professional career, with players boasting a more accomplished CV perhaps more deserving of a wildcard spot.

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“I believe the Ryder Cup is not a participation medal,” he replied. 

Aberg has now impressed on European soil as well as Stateside, where he has missed just one cut in eight tournaments after securing his PGA Tour card through the US circuit’s University Rankings.

It is now up to Donald to decide whether to take a gamble on Aberg, but the feeling is that another strong finish in Switzerland this week would put him in a great position for a Monday call-up from the European skipper.

Robert MacIntyre is currently clinging on to the last automatic qualifying berth on the European Points List, with Yannik Paul, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez and Adrian Otaegui all chasing down the Scot in the hopes they can avoid relying on a captain’s pick.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.