Eddie Pepperell: Ryder Cup pick for Ludvig Aberg would be worrying 

Eddie Pepperell is concerned about what a wildcard for Ludvig Aberg would mean for the validity of Europe’s Ryder Cup qualification system.

Rising star Aberg only turned pro in June but is being seriously considered by Luke Donald for one of his six captain’s picks ahead of the showdown just outside Rome.

The Swede, 23, finished T4 at the Czech Masters last week and has teed it up in his first two rounds with Donald’s vice-captains Edoardo Molinari and Nicolas Colsaerts at the final qualifying event, the Omega Masters in Switzerland.

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Donald is finalising his wildcard selections and intrigue surrounds the possible inclusion of Aberg, who claimed his PGA Tour card via the US circuit’s University Rankings only three months ago.

He is currently down in 58th on the World Points List and his impressive finish in Prague was only the second tournament on European soil that he has competed in as a pro – the first being his missed cut at the Genesis Scottish Open.

Pepperell has hinted that the players closer to an automatic qualifying berth would be far more deserving of a pick, but the Englishman also appreciates just how highly skipper Donald rates the youngster.

When asked on Sky Sports commentary duty if he was surprised about Aberg being considered, Pepperell replied: “A little bit – I feel like he needed to win or come close very close to winning this week to warrant a pick.

“If he doesn’t do that and still gets a pick I worry a little bit about what that means for whoever is going to come at the expense of that. They’ve spent this year playing on this tour, they’ve done well.

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“It’s like Jon Rahm in 2016 – would you have picked him? In hindsight maybe, but you have to respect the qualifying system. People say he’s not in great form but he’s still third in the Race to Dubai, Nico’s [Hojgaard] done well.

“I know Luke played with him in Detroit a month ago – he said it was just as good as watching Rory when he first came out.”

Aberg played alongside Donald in the Rocket Mortgage Classic tournament Pepperell is referring to – shooting rounds of 67 and 65 before falling away over the weekend to finish T40.

He has played in eight tournaments in total since joining the paid ranks but Donald has been tracking the youngster for over a year and he could still emerge as one of the most inexperienced Ryder Cup players in history.

We will find out Donald’s six captain’s picks on Monday September 4th, the day after the six automatic qualifiers are confirmed following the conclusion of the Omega Masters.

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.