2024 RBC Heritage: Top 10 power rankings at Harbour Town

How’s that for a major championship debut?

Ludvig Aberg, the 24-year-old Swedish sensation, had already won the hearts and minds of many in the golf world. He was a can’t-miss world No. 1 amateur and won both on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour in his first year as a pro.

Aberg also made the European Ryder Cup Team and contributed to the winning side’s point total. He was far from the star of the team, but he didn’t appear overwhelmed by the moment, either.

The next thing to conquer in his burgeoning career are majors. It’s wild to think this year’s Masters was his first one.

While this event features the smallest field size of the four majors, it’s arguably the toughest one for a newcomer to win.

Augusta National is the only major played at the same course annually. It’s a venue overflowing with nuance that typically takes a player multiple appearances to even begin to get a full grasp on one of golf’s more demanding tests.

It’s why no one’s won the Masters in their debut since 1979.

Aberg came as close as anyone, at least by position on the scoreboard, in the interim. He also caught the eye of more fans, particularly those whose primary golf viewing is at this very event.

Aberg took solo second, finishing only behind world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler who is on the best run of form since Tiger.

A four-shot win for Scheffler doesn’t tell the full story, as Aberg shared the lead at various points on Sunday. He played brilliant golf on the first nine, going out in 3-under-33.

A double-bogey on No. 11 all but did him in as far as winning, but he admirably battled back to play his final six holes in 2-under to wrap up second place by three shots.

Not bad after missing the cut was in play after a first-round 73. Aberg closed in 69-70-69 to reach 7-under. Only eight players were under par for the week.

This was his eighth straight top-30 finish, which includes one more runner-up (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am) and two more top-10s.

It’s not just the flashy finishes like the Masters that amaze, but the consistency at which he plays. Aberg’s swing is very repeatable and his demeanor on and off the course is veteran-like.

He ranks 12th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total (1.116), thanks largely to ranks of 15th in SG: Off-the-Tee (.513), 17th in SG Tee-to-Green (.974) and 26th in SG: Approach (.507).

Once he gets some years under his belt and isn’t seeing courses for the first time, it wouldn’t be a surprise if his stats on and around the greens start to trend upward.