Rory McIlroy and his rivals were left playing catch-up after rising Swedish star Ludvig Aberg led the way after two rounds at the US Open at Pinehurst.
Rory McIlroy and the other players have been alerted to Ludvig Aberg’s strong performance at the US Open.
In his third major championship, the Swede showcased his talent by taking a one-shot lead at the halfway point of his US Open debut, just a year after turning pro. Aberg’s impressive performance continued on Friday, as he carded a 69 to complement his opening round of 66 at Pinehurst, finishing the day at five under par.
Trailing closely behind the leader were Belgium’s Thomas Detry and Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay. Meanwhile, McIlroy, Tony Finau, and Matthieu Pavon were two shots adrift of the leader, posting a score of three under.
The US Open hasn’t seen a first-time winner since amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913. Aberg, however, could be the next surprise victor, considering his strong start in the professional circuit.
At just 24 years old, he made his pro debut in June 2023 and already secured a victory on the DP World Tour. His standout performance in helping Europe reclaim the Ryder Cup in Rome, particularly his remarkable 9&7 win alongside Viktor Hovland against Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, showcases his potential for future success.
Aberg celebrated a victory on the PGA Tour before the season concluded. His impressive performances led to a major debut at the Masters, where he challenged Scheffler in April before the world number one ultimately secured a second green jacket at Augusta National.
Finau, who was paired with the talented young golfer for the initial two rounds at Pinehurst, couldn’t help but express his admiration, referring to him as “a machine” and suggesting that he, along with McIlroy and others, might find it challenging to stop him from making history. Following the second round, Finau stated: “It’s my first time playing with him. The man is truly like a machine.”
Aberg remained calm under the tournament pressure, stating: “I believe a US Open is meant to be tough. It’s meant to be challenging and test every aspect of your game, and I think it’s definitely doing that. I’ve been really lucky with how things have been going lately, and hopefully, I can continue this momentum.”
Scheffler barely made it to the weekend rounds, finishing right on the cut line of five over after shooting a 74 in the second round. On the other hand, former Open champion Francesco Molinari impressively secured his spot for the weekend by acing the ninth hole – his last hole of the day.
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