SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP

October 4, 2023

Ludvig Aberg

Country Club of Jackson

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome, Ludvig. Congratulations on a great week last week. Obviously the European Ryder Cup Team were victorious over the U.S. You had a really good debut there, so just let us in on what that was like, that experience for you.

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: Yeah, I mean, obviously it was unbelievable for me to first off, be a part of it, but then also to come out victorious was unbelievable. It was a dream come true for me to once in your career be able to be a part of a Ryder Cup, and I was very fortunate to have Captain Luke pick me.

Obviously had a lot of good experiences, a lot of fond memories that I'll never forget, but obviously really happy to be here, as well.

Q. I guess the next thing that everybody wants to know is what were the celebrations like? How are you feeling being here after a lengthy trip?

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: My flight on Monday, I was pretty tired. I slept for a couple hours. But we had a really fun night on Sunday. Everyone came into the team room that we had.

It was really cool to be a part of. Those are the things that you dream of as a kid and especially as a young boy in Sweden growing up. That's what you want to be a part of.

I don't think I'll ever want to miss one again in the future.

Q. This is your first trip here to the Sanderson Farms Championship. You've had a chance to see I think nine holes. What's your first impression?

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: Yeah, so I played nine yesterday, played nine today, so I've actually seen all of them. It was good. It's really nice, great shape, greens are fast and really true.

The golf course itself is pretty straightforward I feel like. It's very what you see is what you get, which for me is pretty nice because I don't need to put that much thought and effort into it. I can kind of trust my caddie on that stuff.

But really good shape and looking forward to a nice couple of days.

Q. Just to bounce back to the last 72 hours, what is that like when you're on top of the world, probably having a great time Sunday night, and being like, I have to go to Jackson and play a tournament, and I assume a big part of this is getting into the Next 10, as well?

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: Yeah, for sure. I knew beforehand, before we played in Rome, that I was committed to this event. I wanted to honor my commitment and stay here and play.

I know it's good for me. Almost a little selfishly I knew I wanted to play. For me to get all these experiences on different golf courses, different tournaments, play as much as I can, I'd like to still think I'm young and I can handle it, but obviously really happy to be here.

Q. That has to be this kind of -- this past week has to be kind of a moment of you've arrived, right? You are playing at the Ryder Cup. You're winning two points. To then kind of have to also balance that with, I'm a rookie on the PGA TOUR, I still have to grind to qualify for certain things, what is that kind of balance like for you as a young guy who has both arrived and still has a lot to do?

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: Yeah, for sure. I still feel like I have a lot to do, just like you said. You know, for me to kind of test the waters a little bit with playing in the Ryder Cup and being around those guys and play against arguably the best players in the world, so for me to have those experiences and knowing what it takes to be the best player in the world and kind of for me to create a relationship with those guys and hang out with them has been unbelievable.

Hopefully that's something that I'll be able to use to my advantage coming into the rest of this year, and then also for the rest of my career.

But like you said, I still have a lot to play for, and that's why I'm playing these events in the fall.

Q. In football, coaches talk about having a letdown after a huge victory and then playing in something of a little bit less import. Is that something you have to think about or guard against? Do you think you'll have a --

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: I don't think it'll be something that I'll think -- I'm going to be nervous on Thursday morning no matter what. I'm going to view it as the most important thing in the world as I'm standing on the tee box, obviously.

Obviously last week was an incredible experience for me, but it's also in the past, and I can't really do anything about it.

All I'm trying to do is play as good as I can, trying to prepare for this week as good as I can, and at the same time kind of conserve my energy a little bit, even though -- or because of last week was quite exhausting.

But I'm here this week, and that's where my focus is.

Q. First off, you mentioned what it takes to be the best and the things you learned this past week. What are some things you might have learned?

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: Yeah, good question. You know, I feel like they're very good at handling their own game, managing their own game. It doesn't matter if -- it doesn't matter what the situation is. They know what it takes, and they know their own capabilities, and then just trying to manage your way around the golf course. It sounds very cheesy to say, but they really are masters of it, and that's what I'm trying to strive towards, and that's what I try to get to.

I still feel like I have a long ways to go, but for me to kind of get those experiences quite early is great for me.

Q. I feel like in the post celebration press conference, you were kind of sitting in the center, kind of chilling, pretty quiet. How did you -- mentally what were you like in the locker room with those guys and being on the scene? What was your role mentally with the guys?

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: I feel like the dynamic of the group was really fun the whole week. Obviously we had a few experienced guys and a few rookies, as well, including myself.

I felt like one of the reasons why the Europeans have been quite successful over the last couple of years is because we have that team camaraderie. I'm not saying the Americans don't but we do, because that's what I've experienced.

I felt the mutual respect, which I thought was pretty cool. Obviously I have a lot of respect for those guys. But for me to kind of see that they had that for me was pretty cool and something that I'll really appreciate.

But yeah, obviously being one of the younger guys on the team, I was there to learn, but I was also there to try to win some points, and luckily we came out with the trophy.

Q. Is there one moment from last week that'll be the most memorable for you? You're 23. 50 years from now, is there one thing you'll remember the most?

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: I think there will be a lot of things that I'll remember. Obviously everyone talks about that first tee and the nerves and the excitement and anticipation that comes with it. It was very true. I was shaking. I was nervous. I was feeling all these things. However much you talk about it, you can't really prepare for it until -- you can't really simulate it. For me to experience that was really cool.

But I do think me and Viktor's win on -- that would be Saturday morning, was quite memorable.

Q. With you and Viktor, I feel like it was almost kind of easy to be like, oh, Scandinavians, but why do you think that partnership worked as well as it did?

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: Yeah. I felt like the captains and the vice captains laid out a good foundation. We kind of -- we went on a team trip a couple weeks prior and we played together and played together at Wentworth and kind of got to know each other quite well during those couple of experiences. Then obviously for me, like why wouldn't you want to play with arguably one of the best players in the world, and he doesn't miss a shot. He was really nice to play with.

Then we speak the same language kinda so we can understand each other, so gives you a little bit of comfort in the middle of chaos, and I felt like it was a good partnership, yeah.

Q. Is it meaningful for you -- like that could be a record that stays for a long time, 9 & 7, best victory in the Ryder Cup. Is it meaningful to you or is it just bigger picture --

LUDVIG Ã…BERG: It's very cool. It's something I'll never forget and always have that with me. But for me, if I didn't win on Sunday, I don't think that would have meant as much. I think the most important thing was to keep the trophy or to get the trophy back to Europe.

But yeah, it was really cool, yeah.